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By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — The Whately Diner and Shelburne Falls’ Iron Bridge will soon return to the silver screen — alongside the debut of other Franklin County locations — as a local director prepares to begin filming his first feature-length...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND – Two local farms opened their doors to Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer Monday morning as she heard farmers explain the challenges brought on by climate change, as well as opportunities for future investments in the industry.The state’s...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE – The Wheeler Memorial Library’s basement level remains closed to the public following a mid-July flooding, and the director said it will stay that way until the floor is restored – a project that cannot begin until an accessibility ramp is...

By CHRIS LARABEE and ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

SUNDERLAND — From extreme weather related to climate change to stronger crop insurance protections and an increase on the cap on lending, area farmers paused their work briefly Tuesday to share their concerns with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern when he swung...

By DOMENIC POLI

In addition to the $950,000 that was awarded to Athol for an infrastructure improvement project along sections of South and Freedoms streets, six Franklin County municipalities are benefiting from a total of $3.9 million in Community Development Block...

BARRE — A group of land conservation partners led by Athol-based Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and Mass Audubon has protected more than 800 acres of land in Barre.According to an announcement from Mount Grace, the Hawes Hill Conservation...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Towns across Franklin County have signed letters in support of a paint recycling bill that advocates say could save municipalities money and help protect the environment.Bernardston, Northfield, Montague, Deerfield, Sunderland and Hawley have signed...

By GREG VINE

PHILLIPSTON – Phillipston Det. Sgt. Sean Sawicki has been chosen to assume the role of police chief while the Selectboard continues deliberations on four applicants for the position interviewed Thursday.The Selectboard spent more than six hours...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The third balanced budget proposal from Town Administrator Matt Fortier includes funding for the town’s two libraries, a stark contrast from the first draft that reflected Orange’s dire financial situation stemming from an estimated $338,000...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The Orange Elementary and Ralph C. Mahar Regional school committees obliged their town’s Selectboard on Monday by revisiting the budgets they’re proposing at the Annual Town Meeting but only Mahar voted to further trim costs as asked.Because...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Authorities are investigating an estimated $338,000 in fraud against the town, which has left Orange in dire financial straits and could result in the closure of its libraries, town officials discussed Thursday.The fraud involves the town...

By MAX BOWEN

ATHOL — Following a March 1 legal notice, the town will proceed with placing 96 properties in tax title for unpaid taxes, according to Treasurer/Tax Collector Patrick McIntyre.The sizable number of properties in arrears account for the last two years,...

By CHRIS LARABEE

Farming is already a tough field to make one’s living. Throw in three consecutive years of extreme weather and personal burnout and you’ve got a recipe for what is shaping up to another difficult year for valley farmers, as they prepare their fields...

By DOMENIC POLI

By DOMENIC POLIStaff WriterResidents have until Friday to submit their input regarding the process by which clean energy projects are permitted in Massachusetts.An online survey is soliciting public comment on how the state should protect health,...

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – This Friday, Village School history teacher George Bennett will share stories from the roads of Britain, Scotland and the Middle East as he discusses his recently-published book, ”Into the Distance: The Lost World of Long-Haul...

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – After nearly a year of searching for someone to re-open the Royalston Country Store, the South Village Revitalization Committee has announced that Winter and Helder Vieira of Bristol, Rhode Island, have purchased the business.It has been...

By MADDIE FABIAN

Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final article from the Western Mass. Solar Forum series. The first three forums took place in September, and another series of forums is in the works for this spring.AMHERST — Most experts agree solar energy is...

By MADDIE FABIAN

For farms across western Massachusetts, the effects of climate change were tangible during the 2023 growing season.At Red Fire Farm in Granby, co-owner Sarah Voiland said that after the May frost event, the farm’s full harvest on multiple acres of...

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – The future of the Bidwell barn – despite what appears to be unanimous support among Selectboard members for its demolition – has yet to be decided, according to Town Manage Shaun Suhoski.“I don’t know about the Historical Society,” he said,...

By BELLA LEVAVI

SHELBURNE — With many multi-generational family farms harvesting timber but only 2% of the wood harvested being used in the local economy, Massachusetts has a long way to go to bolster the timber industry, according to local business representatives...

By Mike RocheBack in the 60s, during my impressionable youth, the second week of November was a very special time. It was not only special to me, but to many other young men at Mahar Regional who knew that this was the start of deer hunting season in...