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Oct 2, 2024 | Hampden County, Hilltowns, Local Headlines, Local News

Granville to host 41st annual Harvest Fair next weekend

GRANVILLE — Thousands are expected to descend on Granville during its 41st annual Harvest Fair, which will feature hundreds of craft vendors, delicious and distinctive food, live entertainment and artist demonstrations spread throughout town. “It will be a great...

Oct 2, 2024 | Local Headlines, Local News

Picking up the pieces: how to help in the wake of Hurricane Helene

We’ve all seen the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. Images of unprecedented flooding destroying homes and businesses across the southeastern states have dominated cable and streaming news channels, not to mention our social media feeds.

Oct 2, 2024 | Enfield, Local Headlines, Local News

Enfield Jack O’ Lantern Festival to return Oct. 19

ENFIELD — Get ready to start this spooky season with the Enfield Jack O’ Lantern Festival on Oct. 19 at the Enfield Town Green, 820 Enfield St. from 4-8 p.m. with a rain date of Oct. 20.

Westfield mansion won’t be saved, but features may be salvaged

WESTFIELD — The city’s Historical Commission isn’t trying to stop the demolition of the Atwater mansion, but it is trying to save some historically significant items in the 1896 house.

Horse owners unsatisfied with response to Big E’s barn fire

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Owners of horses injured in a Sept. 20 fire at the Big E are saying it was more serious than first responders and Eastern States Exposition staff reported.

Enfield’s Poet Laureate busy with festivals and creativity

ENFIELD — For Nzima Hutchings, Enfield’s current poet laureate, the world of poetry is one she hopes to open up to the community at large through writing classes, shows and festivals that bring poetry to the public.

Wilbraham store owner celebrates five-year anniversary

WILBRAHAM — The Scented Garden Gift Shoppe is celebrating five years of its current ownership.

Springfield residents, police share experiences at community meeting

SPRINGFIELD — Recently, amid a casual atmosphere with a light dinner of pizza and sandwiches at Wesley United Methodist Church, residents and law enforcement took part in the challenging work of coming together to find middle ground and a way to move forward.

Downtown Holyoke center of Recovery Day observance

HOLYOKE — Dwight Street in downtown Holyoke was briefly occupied with a group from Hope for Holyoke on Friday, Sept. 20 as they marched from Heritage State Park, to Veterans Memorial Park, and back to City Hall as part of their annual “Recovery Day” celebration.

Chicopee officially welcomes back ValleyBike Share

CHICOPEE — After the regional ValleyBike Share Program was officially welcomed back into the region on Aug. 12 during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Pulaski Park in Northampton, Chicopee officially welcomed back the ValleyBike Share program to the city with a ribbon cutting ceremony and e-bike demonstration on Sept. 16.

WorkHub on Union receives warm welcoming during grand opening

EASTHAMPTON — A feeling of exultation radiated alongside and inside 33 Union St. as the community gathered on Sept. 20 to celebrate the ribbon cutting for Easthampton’s new co-working space known as WorkHub on Union.

Westfield art walk features flame-painted copper, pub-loving fiddler

WESTFIELD — ArtWorks Westfield’s annual ArtoberFest art show will return to downtown Westfield from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, with around 80 artists, artisans and authors along Elm Street from the Westfield Athenaeum to Arnold Street.

Senior Center leader gets to know clients at Southwick BBQ

SOUTHWICK — Nearly 100 clients of the town’s Senior Center enjoyed a barbecue lunch and live music during the center’s annual get-together on Sept. 19 at Whalley Park. “Everyone seemed to have a great time,” said Lisa Anderson, the newly appointed director of the Senior Center.

Staasi Heropoulos

Dinner, show to help Southwick Knights’ charitable mission

SOUTHWICK — By the time the audience figures out “whodunit,” the Knights of Columbus in...

Amy Porter

Chester Electric supporters hope to kill sale talk with Oct. 7 vote

CHESTER — An article on the warrant for the Oct. 7 Special Town Meeting asks voters to...

Tyler Lederer

Agawam resident walking marathon route for Jimmy Fund

AGAWAM — When Agawam resident Suzanne Smith started participating in the Boston Marathon Jimmy...

Laura Mason

East Longmeadow High School to install vapor detection system for e-cigarettes

EAST LONGMEADOW — In the next few months, East Longmeadow will be installing a vapor detection system in four bathrooms at the current high school property in order to reduce and deter student usage of electronic cigarettes.

Ryan Feyre

The Narrow Gate determines former Amherst VFW a ‘viable site’ for shelter

AMHERST — The public received a presentation over Zoom on Sept. 25 about conceptual plans for the new shelter and supportive housing that is being developed at the site of the former Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars on 457 Main St.

Miasha Lee

Somers Town Wide Tag Sale returns on Oct. 5

SOMERS — This fall, the Somers Town Wide Tag Sale returns on Saturday, Oct. 5, rain or shine. Each person that participates chooses their time and are provided with a listing of all the locations by street name in alphabetical order, which will be posted on the town website (somersct.gov) and Facebook page on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Local Headlines

Granville to host 41st annual Harvest Fair next weekend

Picking up the pieces: how to help in the wake of Hurricane Helene

Enfield Jack O’ Lantern Festival to return Oct. 19

Holyoke School Department opens up on process for addressing threats

Northampton Board of Health to consider ‘nicotine-free generation’ policy

Mike Lydick

Family traditions aid high turnout on Big E’s Agawam Day

Bill Toelken said as a neighboring community, it’s important that the Big E recognize Agawam with a special day: “There’s a lot of work that goes on to support the fair on both sides of the river, not just in West Springfield.”

Staasi Heropoulos

Local author to give presentation on King Philip’s War

WILBRAHAM — When Longmeadow author Michael Tougias describes the infamous King Philip’s War in Western Massachusetts, he calls it cataclysmic and the bloodiest conflict in American History.

Tyler Garnet

Chicopee superintendent discusses priorities for school year

CHICOPEE — With the school year in full swing, Superintendent Marcus Ware presented his district priorities to the School Committee during its Sept. 18 meeting.

Laura Mason

Monson police, fire chiefs discuss town departments’ Code Red usage

MONSON — During the Sept. 24 Select Board meeting, Police Chief Stephen Kozloski and Fire Chief Brian Harris brought forward concerns on how the town’s Code Red subscription should be used moving forward.

Sarah Heinonen

Ludlow voters to decide on charter proposal, funding Whitney Park

LUDLOW — Ludlow will conduct its fall Town Meeting on Oct. 7 in the high school auditorium, 500 Chapin St. There are 12 articles on the warrant.

Ryan Feyre

Resolution asks state to increase aid for NPS by $3 million annually

NORTHAMPTON — A resolution imploring the state to increase aid for Northampton Public Schools by $3 million annually is on the verge of passing the City Council.

Magazines

Dining & Entertainment

Matt Conway

What I’m watching: frightful fall features for all

My plans to attend the Big E this year were thwarted by record-breaking attendance and, by my estimation, record-breaking traffic. For everyone like myself who lacks the patience to wait through lines, here are some fall films that will scare you into the Halloween spirit!

Sarah Heinonen

Fright Fest’s scare actors: your terror is their labor of love

AGAWAM — Willow Farber and Aimee Meunier sat on stools with their eyes closed. The table between them was littered with bottles of paint and airbrush applicators. While Entertainment Supervisor Gregory Seymour put the finishing touches of Meunier’s face with a brush, Melissa Wassell began spraying blue lines on Farber’s skin.

Sarah Heinonen

Springfield Museums partners with Irish heritage center to explore ties

The exhibit, “Gone Now, to Springfield,” on display at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History through...

Provisions

Provisions Picks: Italy’s Emilia-Romagna has more than cheese to offer

For September, we are heading to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Emilia-Romagna is a region of northern Italy located...

Lauren LeBel

Go Local Marketplace features vendors, food trucks, music, free trip giveaway

EAST LONGMEADOW — More than 25 local businesses will showcase their specialties through products, baked goods, crafts and more at the first Go Local Marketplace.

Matt Conway

What I’m Eating: Frolicking through fall festivities

The days of summer heat waves are finally over! Like most New Englanders, I consider fall the best season for the region. The sound of wrestling leaves and their beautiful color gradient. The cool chill in the air that washes over like a comforting wave. Through these and other sensations, fall truly exudes a sense of place that feels so evocative to the senses.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

Memorial Ave. rail crossing a real safety hazard

Last week, I met with Chris Tyrrell, a locomotive engineer with CSX Transportation and a legislative representative for...

G. Michael Dobbs

The Paramount deserves being saved by a new owner

Earlier this summer, I made a trip to Rome, New York, to attend a multi-day vintage film festival.

Letters to the Editor

Yes, freedoms are lost in liberal administrations, unequally

The author says; “I really get tired of people claiming they have lost their “freedoms” during liberal administrations...

Letters to the Editor

In support of schools as polling locations

In response to the article “School Committee (Chicopee) public input speakers seek change” (published Sept. 12-18) regarding the use of school buildings as polling locations, Bowe Elementary Physical Education Teacher Kate Moss, at the Sept. 4 School Committee meeting, presented valid concerns for student safety during election days at Bowe School, a designated voting place.

G. Michael Dobbs

And now to the main political event of the fall

So, last Tuesday evening — Primary Election Day — I was at Smokey Joe’s Cigar Lounge, known the world-wide, having my usual Tuesday stogie and a beverage with some of the smartest guys I know and yet despite enjoying myself, I felt like the retired horse that pulled the fire wagon when there was an alarm going. I had an itch, a feeling that I should be in the fray.

Letters to the Editor