North Quabbin Notebook: April 8, 2025

WENDELL — Gail Mason will convene the first event in the 2025 “Honoring Elders” series at the Wendell Meetinghouse on Tuesday, April 8, with Karen and Michael Idoine as the honorees. The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Two dogs, three cats killed in Orange fire

By PAUL FRANZ and DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — A fire that killed two dogs and three cats at 41 Rogers Ave. on Sunday afternoon was determined to have started on the left side of the house’s first floor, according to a state Department of Fire Services spokesperson.

Plans to move Northfield EMS to Bernardston property fall through

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

NORTHFIELD — After achieving the necessary Special Town Meeting support in November, the town’s plan to purchase Valley Concrete & Construction’s facility at 546 Northfield Road in Bernardston to serve as a new home for Northfield EMS has fallen through.

McGovern co-sponsors bill that aims to stop ‘backdoor’ cuts to SNAP benefits

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Accusing his Republican colleagues in Congress of being “too scared to stand up to their leadership,” namely, President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern is co-sponsoring a new bill designed to block “backdoor” cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

COVID 5 years later: Is Massachusetts prepared for another pandemic?

By MAYA MITCHELL

Five years after the first case of what was then a novel coronavirus infection, health care professionals and state legislators worry Massachusetts isn’t ready if another pandemic were to happen.

Lochhead family, aided by Franklin Land Trust, conserves 65 acres in Conway

By CHRIS LARABEE

CONWAY — With a 65-acre conservation restriction enacted in mid-March, 74 acres of land on Reeds Bridge Road have now been permanently conserved by a local family and the Franklin Land Trust.

Five UMass Amherst students have visas, student status revoked

By SHELBY BROCK

AMHERST — Five international students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have had their visas revoked and their student statuses terminated by the federal government, Chancellor Javier Reyes announced in a letter to the campus community on Friday.

Monthly Community Soup Nights prove popular at Greenfield’s Stone Soup Cafe

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — In an effort to feed and unite the community, Stone Soup Cafe, in partnership with Greenfield Savings Bank, Greenfield Cooperative Bank and other local sponsors, is hosting monthly pay-what-you-can Community Soup Nights until June.

Buckland looking at $5.9M budget for FY26

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

BUCKLAND — Town officials are eyeing an operating budget of just over $5.9 million for fiscal year 2026, representing a 6.7% increase from this fiscal year’s numbers.

Greenfield Police Logs: March 8 to March 16, 2025

6:28 p.m. — Disturbance reported at McDonald’s on the Mohawk Trail. Services rendered.

PHOTO: Gobbling up attention

Part 1: Enough Abuse shares series of tips for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Greenfield Recorder is working with Enough Abuse, a citizen education and community engagement initiative organized in 2002 to prevent child sexual abuse in Massachusetts, to share a total of 20 tips for parents that will help them keep their children safe from sexual abuse. These tips will be shared over four weeks.

Greenfield Historical Commission gives nod to apartment proposal for Main Street

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Members of the Historical Commission expressed approval of Rural Development Inc.’s plan to build a 24-unit, four-story residential building at 170-186 Main St. at their meeting Thursday evening.

Montague and Erving Notebook: April 5, 2025

ERVING — As part of the Historical Women Series presented by performer Sheryl Faye, a program detailing the life of late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be held at the Erving Public Library on Sunday, April 6, starting at 2 p.m.

Shelburne Selectboard determines police detective will retain job

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

SHELBURNE — Tucker Jenkins will keep his job as a Shelburne police detective, following a 10-week investigation into the relationship between Jenkins and a student at Mohawk Trail Regional School.

A flash point over gun control: Can Massachusetts’ strict firearms law survive the 2026 ballot?

By ADITI THUBE

Massachusetts gun rights advocates are pushing to overturn a 2024 update of the state’s already tough firearms law, collecting more than 90,000 signatures to place a repeal referendum on the 2026 ballot.

FRCOG hosts discussion on advocacy efforts to support children, caregivers

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — Community and nonprofit leaders convened at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ offices this week to share an update on advocacy efforts for some of the most vulnerable populations: children and caregivers.

Shelburne Falls poet releasing ‘Jailbreak of Sparrows’

By GUSTAVO ATENCIO FLORES

SHELBURNE FALLS — “Having a relationship with your own history” is the essence of poetry, says resident Martín Espada — an essence that shines through in his latest book of poetry, “Jailbreak of Sparrows.”

PHOTOS: GCC hosts Involvement Expo

Beacon Hill Roll Call: March 24 to March 28, 2025

By BOB KATZEN