Whately Center School feasibility study to start in new year

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — With funding for a feasibility study in hand, progress on the former Center School’s rehabilitation will start picking up steam in 2025.With a $14,000 grant match in hand following approval at the Nov. 12 Special Town Meeting, Town...

Montague Police Logs: Nov. 12 to Nov. 17, 2024

Tuesday, Nov. 12 9:04 a.m. — Officer requesting assistance with eviction clarification on J Street. Ronald Morris, 64, of J Street in Turners Falls, was arrested on a default warrant.4:10 p.m. — Reporting party states there appears to be some damage...

GCC event highlights outdoor industry jobs

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

GREENFIELD — Between hiking, biking, skiing and more, there is a lot of fun to be had in the great outdoors, and sometimes, you can find a career there, too. Greenfield Community College held its annual Outdoor Industry Job Fair on Thursday,...

Tree lighting, pop-up market kick off first night of Jingle Fest

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

GREENFIELD — To ring in the holiday season, downtown Greenfield came to life with songs, shopping and the lighting of a Christmas tree during the first night of the 11th annual Jingle Fest on Friday evening.The Franklin Community Co-op served hot...

Franklin County, North Quabbin students honored for success in, out of class

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Ten exemplary students from across Franklin County and North Quabbin region were recognized Thursday night during the Franklin County Area Superintendents’ Association’s annual awards dinner at Franklin County Technical School.These...

State climate law leaves locals uneasy

By MARA MELLITS

With the new climate and clean energy law changing the permitting process for solar and battery storage projects, western Massachusetts residents are left wondering how the regulations will impact their rural communities.“An act promoting a clean...

Mass Audubon speaks to language in clean energy law to minimize land use concerns

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

While the recent passage of a new clean energy law leaves details of implementation to be solidified over the next 15 months before it takes effect, Mass Audubon’s director of legislative and government affairs is feeling hopeful about one aspect...

Two Gardner residents killed in three-vehicle crash in New Salem

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

NEW SALEM — Two Gardner residents were killed in a three-vehicle crash on Daniel Shays Highway (Route 202) on Friday, according to Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laurie Loisel.Both the driver and passenger, ages 89 and 74, in one...

Remaining ARPA funding to benefit pocket park, Cowell Gym in Shelburne

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

SHELBURNE — The Selectboard has allocated the town’s remaining $40,315 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward landscaping work at the pocket park and continued renovations at Cowell Gym. For months, Selectboard members have pondered what to...

With eye toward FY26 budget, salary talks begin in Orange

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town administrator intends to tally what certain salary percentage increases would look like for department heads and present those numbers to the Selectboard during its scheduled Dec. 18 meeting.Matthew Fortier addressed board members at...

New offices in Greenfield mark expansion for Community Legal Aid

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — After decades working out of a satellite office on Federal Street, Community Legal Aid has found a new home in downtown Greenfield.Community Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents in...

Benefit to be held this weekend for Northfield fire victim

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — A benefit this weekend will raise money for the Holly Avenue resident whose home was severely damaged in an October fire that killed her two dogs.The event will be held at the Montague Elks Lodge, located at 1 Elks Ave. in Turners Falls,...

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Nov. 25 to Nov. 29, 2024

By BOB KATZEN

There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.The 2025-2026 legislative session is scheduled to begin in January. One of the first orders of business in the Senate will be the adoption of rules under which the Senate will operate for the...

Bus transit gets a boost to expand, connect routes throughout western Mass

By ALEXA LEWIS

Transit services are set to expand throughout the region next year, with more than $3 million in state grants awarded to transit authorities in the Pioneer Valley and surrounding areas to improve connections across routes.These expansions come as part...

Opioid Task Force hosts methadone advocates to speak on stigma, proposed treatment expansion

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

Advocates from the National Coalition to Liberate Methadone discussed the stigma associated with methadone treatment and recommended ways to expand it during a virtual event hosted by the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin...

Public input sought to inform creation of Road Safety Action Plan for Franklin County

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GREENFIELD — Backed by a federal grant, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) is in the process of developing its own Road Safety Action Plan to serve as a guide for future traffic safety investments.To inform the plan’s creation,...

PHOTOS: Merry crafting at Historic Deerfield

North County Notebook: Dec. 6, 2024

Families invited to build gingerbread houses NORTHFIELD — The Recreation Commission invites Northfield families to make their own gingerbread houses in the Northfield Elementary School cafeteria on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.CPA...

Montague and Erving Notebook: Dec. 6, 2024

Franklin Tech holding open house for eighth graders TURNERS FALLS — Franklin County Technical School’s open house for Franklin County eighth graders will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Attendees can tour technical programs; learn...

$301K in grants funding upgrade at Western Mass Food Processing Center

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — More products and facility upgrades will be coming to the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center, as the Franklin County Community Development Corporation has reeled in two separate grants.The Franklin County CDC was awarded a...