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...

‘It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls’ showcases village businesses, nonprofits

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

TURNERS FALLS — Friday night was a wonderful night for giving, whether that was in the form of looking for gifts to give this holiday season or giving back to the community, as the village held its 11th annual “It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls”...

Health New England awards grants to 3 local nonprofits to advance youth health, well-being

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Health New England has awarded grants to three local nonprofits that work to advance youth health and well-being in western Massachusetts. Just Roots farm is receiving $3,000 to fund its Food Access for Youth & Families Program while...

Leyden Special Town Meeting in January to address accessory dwelling units

By DOMENIC POLI

LEYDEN — Residents can expect a Special Town Meeting next month to vote on a pair of proposed bylaws regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs).The Planning Board held a public hearing on Wednesday to review the warrant articles likely to come up for a...

Greenfield committee supports allowing multi-family dwellings with 24 units or less by right

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — The Economic Development Committee is unanimously recommending to City Council that multi-family dwellings with 24 units or less be allowed by right, and that housing developments with 25 or more units be allowed by special permit in the...

Views aired on rooster regulations in Greenfield

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Residents flocked to City Hall earlier this week to voice their opinions on a proposed regulation that, if passed by City Council, would ban rooster ownership without a special permit in the city’s urban and suburban residential...

‘Everyone has a battle’: 1 year later, Greenspace CoWork co-founder still seeking kidney donor

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — Jeremy Goldsher has had “a lot and also not very much” going on in the past 12 months.The co-founder of Greenspace CoWork has been on dialysis for a year after being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, a result of the genetic...

Nutty call: Orange FD helps remove squirrels from family’s Christmas tree

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — As if from a much milder scene in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” two members of the Orange Fire Department found a squirrel surprise after investigating some suspicious activity in a family’s Christmas tree.Capt. James Hopkins and...

Leyden retreat center withdraws permit application, plans to try again next year

By DOMENIC POLI

LEYDEN — A group interested in opening a short-term vacation rental space in town has withdrawn its special permit application to address concerns raised by the Planning Board but plans to file a new submission that more accurately reflects its...

Third-party review prompts smaller water bill for Montague Clean Water Facility

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

MONTAGUE — Following a third-party review, a $105,883 bill to the Clean Water Facility has been reduced to $88,312 to reflect a more accurate daily average of water needed for the chlorination process.Clean Water Facility Superintendent Chelsey...

Bernardston Senior Center director takes job in Pittsfield

By LIESEL NYGARD

BERNARDSTON — After three years at the helm of the Bernardston Senior Center, Director Jennifer Reynolds has announced her resignation, effective Jan. 3, 2025.Reynolds, a Deerfield resident, has been tapped to serve as director of the Ralph J. Froio...

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Dec. 2 to Dec. 6, 2024

By BOB KATZEN

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from budget vetoes by Gov. Maura Healey. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.$3 million for professional development for early educators (H 4800) The House,...

Greenfield Notebook: Dec. 14, 2024

LAVA Center presents Climate Change Theater 2024: ‘In It Together’ GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. will present a mixed-media program of short videos and play readings on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Masks are required at the 2...

PHOTO: Watching like a hawk

Montague Board of Health approves nicotine pouch restriction

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

MONTAGUE — Customers won’t find nicotine pouches on the shelves of any Montague stores after March 1, 2025, following a Wednesday night decision by the Board of Health to revise the town’s existing tobacco sales restrictions.Moving forward, nicotine...

Agreement gives Greenfield Police access to schools’ live video under ‘certain instances’

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Following months of discussions on ways to make schools safer, the School Committee has voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Police Department that allows officers to monitor the schools’ live security...

Massachusetts mapping out maternal health upgrades

By ALISON KUZNITZ

State officials are preparing for the rollout of expanded maternal health care services in 2025, stemming from a new law and recommendations they issued last year.Public health officials said the bevy of reforms were fueled by the controversial...

South County Notebook: Dec. 13, 2024

Whately Congregational Church hosting annual living nativity scene WHATELY — The Whately Congregational Church’s annual living nativity scene returns this weekend with live animals included.The annual Christmas event began in the mid-1990s and brings...

After weighing split rate, Whately Selectboard adopts single tax rate of $13.34

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — The Selectboard adopted a single tax rate for all properties in town of $13.34 per $1,000 valuation for fiscal year 2025, representing a roughly 2.5% decrease from the previous year.The decision came following an extended discussion...

North Quabbin Notebook: Dec. 13, 2024

Cookie walk and Christmas fair set for Saturday ORANGE — A cookie walk and Christmas fair will be held at the Central Congregational Church of Orange at 93 South Main St. from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.There will be a variety of...