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By MARY BYRNE

GREENFIELD — After two years of representing Precinct 7, Jasper Lapienski has submitted his resignation from City Council, effective Jan. 1, 2024.“I plan to focus my time and energy on my work with the Jewish community, where I believe that it will be...

By STELLA TANNENBAUM

BOSTON — Massachusetts would become the second state in the nation to ban discrimination based on body size under a proposal aired at a recent hearing of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.During a seven-hour hearing in which over 230 people...

By DOMENIC POLI and CHRIS LARABEE

Towns across Franklin County are starting to adopt flag policies after being approached by an anti-abortion group wanting to fly its banner on public grounds.The Pro Life Legal Defense Fund Inc. emailed towns and cities across the state late last...

By CHRIS LARABEEStaff WriterCONWAY — With two events wrapped up in the last month, Conway’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant project will move to the visioning stage as the town looks for flood-mitigation strategies in the village...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — During the pandemic, numerous cars parked daily along Rattlesnake Gutter Road up to the gates that have for more than 20 years kept a more than mile-long section of the narrow gravel road closed to through traffic, indicating that people...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD – With no discussion on the article, voters at Monday’s special Town Meeting granted Deerfield borrowing authority for up to $5 million, if needed, to pay off existing and potential future road repairs following severe summer storms.In...

By CHRIS LARABEE

CONWAY — After facing some resident opposition to building pickleball courts on the South River Meadow, the Parks and Recreation Committee is exploring a lot behind the Conway Grammar School.The committee is exploring Lot 8.3 behind the elementary...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Pointing to a shooting in Holyoke last week that left a pregnant mother critically injured and killed her baby, House Democrats have resurrected their campaign to overhaul the state’s firearms laws, rolling out a redrafted bill that continues...

By SOPHIE HAUCK

NORTHAMPTON — Federal workers and welfare program beneficiaries in the Pioneer Valley scrambled this week to shutter research projects, seek out food assistance programs and brace for an indefinite government shutdown that starts at midnight on...

By AALIANNA MARIETTA

Gulf Road to be closed TuesdaySelectboard members voted during their Aug. 22 meeting to notify Northfield residents that Gulf Road will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29, through the CodeRED mobile alert system. According to Highway Superintendent Thomas...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town is looking at $264,000 in utility savings thanks to a net-metering contract with the community solar field in Warren, according to the Orange Energy Committee’s chairman.Henry Oertel went before the Selectboard last week to give his...

BY AALIANNA MARIETTA

BERNARDSTON — The Bernardston Senior Center will soon extend a helping hand to seniors in neighboring towns thanks to a $25,000 Service Incentive Grant from the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and state Executive Office of Elder Affairs. The grant...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town’s health agent has signed on to become the new town administrator, ending a four-month saga that saw two previous candidates have their offers rescinded for undisclosed reasons.Matthew Fortier will take the reins on Aug. 21, earning...

By SHAUN A. SUHOSKI

Dear Athol residents: On Monday, less than 10% of Athol’s registered voters turned out to vote in a special election that sought approval of a Proposition 2½ override to increase staffing in the Athol Fire Department by two additional firefighter/EMTs...

By AALIANNA MARIETTA

NORTHFIELD — After a year of training, Assistant Town Clerk Amanda Lynch has moved into the town clerk position held by her mentor Dan Campbell, who is retiring after 10 years in the role.As assistant town clerk, Lynch, 33, learned how to “shift gears...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — It appears the town will gain a new economic development director just as it loses its longtime superintendent of highway, cemeteries and parks.The Selectboard voted unanimously at Wednesday’s meeting to offer the economic development...

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — The Franklin Regional Council of Governments has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess brownfield sites across the county.The money will enable FRCOG to hire a professional engineering firm to...

By JULIAN MENDOZA

GREENFIELD — With the city at what many would consider a political and cultural crossroads, members of the Progressive Blueprint for Greenfield, an independent advocacy group, took to the Greenfield Common on Saturday to communicate their mission to...

By SAM DORAN

BOSTON — A federal judge hadn’t even ruled yet on suspending approval of the abortion pill mifepristone in April when Gov. Maura Healey orchestrated a major reserve shipment of the drug through the state’s flagship university. But despite pledges of...

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — After hearing more than an hour of testimony from numerous residents, the Selectboard deemed a dog dangerous and ordered it be confined to its owner’s property.With reports from several people around town, Police Chief James Sevigne Jr. and...