Former teacher pleads guilty to indecent A&B

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — An Ashfield man and former teacher was sentenced Wednesday morning to three years’ probation after changing his plea on charges related the 2017 inappropriate touching of his friends’ daughters.Douglas J. Forbes, 53, pleaded guilty in...

DA alum David Koch dies

By DOMENIC POLI

DEERFIELD — Deerfield Academy is, for the second time this month, mourning the death of a former student who came from a powerful American family.David Koch, the libertarian billionaire businessman who graduated from the prestigious institution in...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: Aug. 9 to Aug. 16, 2019

Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, Aug. 9Wayne J. Poirier, 29, of Key Road, Keene, N.H. Charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, by Montague Police. Released on personal recognizance. Pretrial conference set for Nov. 8. Michael...

Baystate to acquire Connecticut River Internists after all four doctors retire

By GRACE BIRD

TURNERS FALLS — After 31 years in practice, all four primary care doctors and co-owners of Connecticut River Internists will retire at the end of the year.While the doctors — Drs. Joseph Viadero, Adam Blacksin, Wayne Gavryck and Laurence Klein — were...

Stylist unveils two new salons in Greenfield, Turners Falls

By MELINA BOURDEAU

GREENFIELD — With Textür Beauty Bar and Textür Blow Out Bar in two towns, owner Carleigh Dlugosz said she wants to bring “a driving energy” to both locations.Dlugosz, a Turners Falls resident who previously co-owned Lavish on Chapman Street with...

Orange and Greenfield District Court Logs: July 22 to July 30, 2019

Judge David Ross Orange, July 22Jonathan M. Colwell, 33, of Franklin Street, Millers Falls. Charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and no inspection sticker. Released on personal recognizance. Count 1 was dismissed upon the...

Michael Kittredge, Yankee Candle founder, dies at 67

By DOMENIC POLI

LEVERETT — Michael J. Kittredge II, whose homemade candle as a cash-strapped teenager evolved into an industry giant, has died. He was 67.Kittredge, founder of the Yankee Candle Co., died Wednesday evening at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston...

Greenfield District Court Logs: July 2 to July 9, 2019

Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, July 2Shawndell R. Collins, 30, of Abermore Street, Springfield. Charge of furnishing false identification information, in Bernardston by State Police from the Shelburne barracks. Pled guilty and found guilty, with...

Sunburn Beach issues linger as owners sell land to state

By GRACE BIRD

CHARLEMONT — The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) paid $25,000 for a 4.6-acre piece of riverfront land known as “Sunburn Beach,” owned by family of the late Grace and Marshall Johnson.The land, located off North River Road at the...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: June 20 to July 2, 2019

Judge William Mazanec III Greenfield, June 20Jeremy L. Stokes, 29, of Lincoln Street, Greenfield. Charge of OUI-liquor, over .08 percent, second offense, by Deerfield Police. Found not guilty in the jury trial. Found responsible on a charge of a...

Rising above the rest: New bakery opens in downtown Greenfield

By JOSHUA SOLOMON

GREENFIELD — Rise Above Bakery and Cafe was merely a product of the imagination of a wide-eyed 20-something in his native New Hampshire.It was around when he had met his wife during his freshman year of college, but before he left school to pursue his...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: June 21 to June 27, 2019

Judge Laurie MacLeod Orange, June 21 Issak A. Reinikainen, 20, of Gay Street, Orange. Charged with OUI-liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and person under 21 in possession of liquor. Event was resolved with special conditions to complete a...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: June 10 to June 24, 2019

Judge David Ross Orange, June 10Gregory S. Bryant II, 33, of West River Street, Orange. Charged with assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Arraigned and held. Released on personal recognizance and special conditions....

Greenfield District Court Logs: May 31 to June 6, 2019

Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, May 31Breelin K. Madajewski, 39, of Garden Street, West Springfield. Charge of operating a motor vehicle with license suspended, in Greenfield with State Police from the Shelburne barracks. Pretrial conference set...

Gone too soon

By ANITA FRITZ

SOUTH DEERFIELD — On March 10 at 7 a.m., Barbara Messinger got the phone call no mother should ever have to receive.“The minute it rang, I knew it wasn’t good,” Messinger said. “The doctor on the other end said I should get to Boston immediately — my...

Greenfield and Orange District Court Logs: May 29 to June 4, 2019

Judge William Mazanec IIIGreenfield, May 29Robert L. Armstan, 29, of Bernardston Road, Greenfield. Charge of OUI-liquor, with admission to sufficient facts accepted, with sufficient facts found but continued without a finding until May 28, 2020, with...

Suicide barriers in sight for French King Bridge

By GRACE BIRD

After multiple years of requests by Gill and Erving, the state is finally edging toward installing barriers on the French King Bridge.The bridge connects the towns of Gill and Erving and is a well-known site for suicides.Gill Police Chief Christopher...

Greenfield District Court Logs: May 20 to May 28, 2019

Judge Patrick SabbsGreenfield, May 20 Timothy D. Bourbeau, 51, of Washington Street, Greenfield. Charges of vandalizing property, and breaking and entering into a building at nighttime for felony, by Greenfield Police, with bail set at $2,000 cash, or...

Where to celebrate Memorial Day in Franklin County

Ashfield The Town of Ashfield will hold a Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, starting at the Town Hall at 10 a.m., rain on shine. Bernardston The Bernardston Memorial Day parade will kick off from the Four Leaf Clover at 10 a.m. sharp and proceed...

Orange District Court logs, April 26-May 3

Judge David RossOrange, April 26Sean A. Ponusky, 33, of Walnut Street, Athol. Charged with OUI-liquor. Pretrial hearing found sufficient facts, but continued without a finding until April 24, 2020.Michael J. Boudreau, 58, of Cummings Road, Athol....