Winner named in 34th annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest in Greenfield

By GUSTAVO ATENCIO FLORES

GREENFIELD — The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library crowned Christian Drake the adult winner of this year’s Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest.

Orange faces $1.7M deficit as officials seek to balance municipal, education needs in FY26

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town reportedly faces “a death spiral,” in the words of a Finance Committee member, as it struggles to draft a proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 that can accommodate municipal needs as well as Orange’s assessment for Ralph C. Mahar Regional School.

Greenfield Ways and Means Committee OKs $67.93M budget proposal, sending it to City Council

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — After hearing the details of Mayor Ginny Desorgher’s nearly $67.93 million fiscal year 2026 budget proposal Wednesday evening, Ways and Means Committee members agreed to positively recommend it to City Council, as long as no potential reductions can be found before this month’s meeting.

In celebration of Law Day, Franklin County students tour Justice Center

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

GREENFIELD — The Franklin County Justice Center celebrated the future of law by welcoming middle and high school students from across the county for an inside look at the judicial system on Thursday morning.

Montague, Gill and Erving Notebook: May 2, 2025

GILL — The public is invited to an opening reception on Friday, May 2, at 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Northfield Mount Hermon School’s Rhodes Arts Center for “Japanese Pop Art & Landscape,” an exhibit highlighting the work of Greenfield artist Kimiko Donohoe that will be on display through May 30.

Annual bowling fundraiser supports Big Brothers Big Sisters

By GUSTAVO ATENCIO FLORES

ERVING — After successfully expanding the event to Berkshire County for the first time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts will conclude its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser at French King Bowling Center on Saturday, May 3.

Effort to plant 700 trees, shrubs at Colrain Street lot in Greenfield starts Saturday

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — After a year of planning, Mayor Ginny Desorgher will join community members and the environmental nonprofit Greening Greenfield on Saturday to start planting trees along the perimeter of the former Wedgewood Gardens mobile home park on Colrain Street.

Small CPA projects, outstanding bills swiftly approved at Whately Special Town Meeting

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — Two Community Preservation Act funding requests and two bills from prior fiscal years were approved by residents in a swift Special Town Meeting Wednesday evening.

No contested races on ballot in New Salem election

NEW SALEM — There are no contested races in the town election on Monday, May 5.

Hawley election ballot sees nine uncontested races

HAWLEY — All nine positions on Hawley’s election ballot are uncontested.

Frontier students take the helm in production of ‘Wild Kate’

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.”

PHOTOS: Greenfield swears in new deputy fire chief, firefighters

$200K grant fuels expansion at Radial Dynamics in Greenfield

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Radial Dynamics, a Greenfield hydraulic engineering company, will steer its way into the future with its new high-tech manufacturing equipment, including a robotic arm that was purchased with the help of a $200,000 grant.

Selectboard candidate running unopposed on platform of ‘keeping Wendell, Wendell’

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — Adam Feltman has never served on a municipal board or committee. But that will soon change as long as there are no surprises in Monday’s election.

Business Briefs: May 2, 2025

SPRINGFIELD — Following its April 14 meeting, Dakin Humane Society announced its 2025 board of directors. The all-volunteer Dakin board represents communities from across the Pioneer Valley.

Real Estate Transactions: May 2, 2025

Nancy L. Strom and Roger J. Strom sold to Tatiana Safronova and Alex Safronova, 43 Colonial Drive. $365,000.

PHOTOS: Busy like bees

Report: Antisemitic incidents remain elevated in Mass

By COLIN A. YOUNG

BOSTON — The number of antisemitic incidents reported in Massachusetts was essentially unchanged in 2024, though officials with the Anti-Defamation League said the total is “part of a troubling long-term trend” of heightened harassment, vandalism and assault.

National Spiritual Alliance reopens temple in Lake Pleasant

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

LAKE PLEASANT — Following a six-month hiatus, The National Spiritual Alliance is coming out of hibernation.

FEMA cuts impact hazard mitigation efforts in Whately, Colrain

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to end its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has town officials in Whately and Colrain going back to the drawing board to figure out how to fund hazard mitigation work in their communities.