Greenfield School Committee’s DeNeeve recognized with state honor

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — The Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) has selected School Committee member Elizabeth DeNeeve to be a 2024 All-State School Committee Member — the first such recognition presented to a Greenfield School Committee member...

Turners Falls power canal water drawdown extended to Oct. 20

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS – FirstLight’s annual drawdown of water has been extended for continued maintenance on the Turners Falls power canal left dike until Oct. 20, three weeks longer than anticipated.According to FirstLight, the planned maintenance project...

UMass geothermal power project alarms residents

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Drilling of geothermal wells in Lot 31 off Governors Drive is set to begin next month at the University of Massachusetts, a project that will allow two large classroom buildings under construction to be powered by renewable energy when they...

Question 5: Do tipped workers need a raise? Controversial measure heads to voters

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN and ALEXA LEWIS

GREENFIELD — Voters will decide on Election Day whether to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers in Massachusetts, a controversial ballot initiative known as Question 5 that could change the landscape for the restaurant and bar industry and other...

South County Senior Center sites narrowed to South Deerfield, Whately locations

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — The South County Senior Center Board of Oversight narrowed its sights to the South Deerfield Congregational Church and the Whately Town Offices, as it continues to nail down the best location for the center’s future home.In a meeting held...

Ashfield plans solar array near wastewater treatment plant

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ASHFIELD— A new solar array may be coming to the wastewater treatment plant on Conway Road. The Ashfield Selectboard has given the Energy Committee the go ahead to begin designing an array to fit the town’s needs with Solect Energy, a solar company...

Shelburne Historical Society to celebrate Indigenous peoples on Oct. 20

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Shelburne Historical Society is inviting the public to the 4th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Recognition Day Celebration on Oct. 20.From 1 to 4 p.m. the society museum at 33 Severance St. will be open and celebrating the 46th...

Judge revokes Vermont man’s bail

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — A Vermont man accused of causing a head-on crash on Route 2 that resulted in serious injuries to a Rhode Island family of four last year had his $10,000 bail revoked on Thursday after testing positive for cocaine.Javery A. Hattat will...

Greenfield Public Library programs highlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

GREENFIELD — In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Greenfield Public Library is holding a series of special programs to raise awareness and foster community among those battling breast cancer.The project is over a year in the making. Last...

Comerford continues push for Indigenous Peoples Day

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford is continuing her push to officially erase the memory of Christopher Columbus from the second Monday of October, and in its place make the day one of recognition for Indigenous peoples, as dozens of states have...

Ashlfield celebrates the beauty of fall at annual festival

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ASHFIELD — Sunday morning was cloudy and gray, but the rain cleared away just in time for the second day of the 54th Ashfield Fall Festival, and all the community celebratory fun scheduled with it.Since October of 1970, Ashfield Fall Festival has been...

State reports 100% negative results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy herds

By MARA MELLITS

Earlier this year, a nationwide outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in cows caused panic for dairy farmers everywhere. Now, Massachusetts has become the only state to test all of its dairy herds, from 95 farms, and achieve 100% negative...

Affordable housing planned for Stone Farm Lane in Greenfield

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — With 32 acres of land near Stone Farm Lane taken off the speculative market after a land trust purchased it in the summer, two organizations have plans to build affordable — if unconventional — housing.Valley Community Land Trust, a...

And Then What Happened?: Are you abiding by the heat rule?

By NAN PARATI

Now, what are the rules again? I remember when I first landed here in 2005 being advised by several people who had no use for the letter “R” at the end of a word that, “You know, Nan, in New England, you don’t turn the heat on until aftah” (it was...

PHOTO: Milkweed in Montague

Conservation agent to serve five towns

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

A new conservation agent has been hired to serve the towns of Ashfield, Buckland, Hawley, Whately and Williamsburg.Greenfield resident Kelly Kowal was chosen out of 27 applicants. A hiring committee consisting of representatives from each town...

‘Clean Sweep’ Bulky Waste Recycling Day set for Oct. 19

The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District will hold its next “Clean Sweep” Bulky Waste Recycling Day on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.The three collection locations are the Erving Highway Garage at 16 Public Works Blvd. (off Route...

Greenfield Recreation Department Notebook: Oct. 14, 2024

Mayor Walk: The public is invited to learn more about what is happening in Greenfield during the mayor’s final walk of the season at Highland Park on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m.Rec the Night Boo Bash: Kids in grades five through seven are...

9-year-old Ashfield resident organizing contest to inspire litter cleanups

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ASHFIELD — Wanted: the weirdest trash in western Franklin County. A local 9-year-old is organizing a litter pickup competition to encourage people to clean up their communities. Everett Miller has been focused on cleaning up trash for a few years now....