Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Oct. 9-15, 2019

Holly A. Boisvert, 49, homeless of Greenfield. Charge of possession of a Class B drug and possession of a Class E drug. Released on personal recognizance. Pretrial conference set for Dec. 6. The counsel fee was waived.Judge William Mazanec III...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Oct. 15 to Oct. 18, 2019

Judge William MazanecGreenfield, Oct. 15Kevin K. Smith, 34, of Oak Grove Avenue, Springfield. Charges of resisting arrest, intimidating a witness/juror/police/court official, a marked lanes violation, failure to stop or yield, improper operation of a...

Community Action Pioneer Valley could see significant reduction in service under Trump cuts

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — The White House’s top-line discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2026, released on May 2, proposes the slashing of two line items that, if approved, could significantly alter Community Action Pioneer Valley’s services.

Franklin County arts organizations concerned by proposed NEA elimination

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN and MADISON SCHOFIELD

Franklin County arts organizations are worried about the future funding landscape after hearing about cuts the Trump administration is proposing to the National Endowment for the Arts.

City Council votes down ADU restrictions, approves raising building height cap

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Housing took center stage during a more than three-hour meeting Thursday, as City Council voted against the zoning amendments in a citizen’s petition to regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and approved an amendment to increase the maximum building height in the Central Commercial District.

Montague and Erving Notebook: May 10, 2025

TURNERS FALLS — Beginning Monday, May 12, a portion of the Canalside Rail Trail Bike Path from the 11th Street Bridge to Depot Street will be closed as FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. completes a maintenance project on the power canal’s left dike.

West County Notebook: May 10, 2025

ROWE — The Berkshire Environmental Action Team will lead a tree identification walk at Pelham Lake Park on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m.

Contests for town clerk, library trustee on Colrain ballot

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

COLRAIN — Residents will decide the outcome of contested races for town clerk and library trustee in this year’s town election on Tuesday.

Creation of shared fire district, demolition delay bylaw on tap for Rowe Town Meeting

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ROWE — Residents will be asked to approve a $4.88 million total budget for fiscal year 2026, $175,000 for planning library renovations, and provisions that seek to create a Rowe-Charlemont Fire District and preserve historic buildings in town during Annual Town Meeting.

PHOTOS: Nature education

Shelburne voters give blessing to bylaws on short-term rentals, battery energy storage

By DIANE BRONCACCIO

SHELBURNE — In a two-night session that saw votes on 39 warrant articles, Annual Town Meeting voters adopted a nearly $6.24 million budget for fiscal year 2026, approved a new bylaw regulating short-term rentals, and set parameters for large-scale battery energy storage systems.

Beacon Hill Roll Call: April 28 to May 2, 2025

By BOB KATZEN

Dog of the Week: Kendrick

‘Amazing’ selection for pope surprises Bishop Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield

By SAMUEL GELINAS

SPRINGFIELD — Bishop William Byrne was just as caught off guard as everyone else Thursday when white smoke marked the election of Pope Leo XIV, who will reign as the next pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Ahead of renovations, Memorial Hall Association invites residents to take a seat from historic theater

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

SHELBURNE FALLS — Community members looking to own a piece of Shelburne Falls history are in luck.

Greenfield set to launch single-stream recycling in July

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — The city’s shift from using a dual-stream recycling method to single-stream recycling will take effect in July, according to Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner II.

Amid flooding, Greenfield committee seeks safer encampment areas for homeless

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — After rainstorms brought flooding to the region last weekend that impacted the city’s homeless population, members of the newly formed Unhoused Community Committee discussed forming designated camping areas for the homeless.

First part of Montague Town Meeting OKs $12.75M budget, school funding

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

MONTAGUE — The first 17 articles were approved Wednesday during the first part of Montague’s Annual Town Meeting, with the $12.75 million operating budget, school assessments and the first few capital projects passing after spirited discussion.

Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV

By NICOLE WINFIELD

VATICAN CITY — Robert Prevost, an missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.