EAST LONGMEADOW — Tiny homes, in-law apartments and other sub-separate living structures, known as accessory dwelling units, will be allowed by right in Massachusetts as of Feb. 2. The Affordable Homes Act, passed in the summer of 2024, prohibits municipalities from outlawing the living arrangements. However, towns can implement reasonable restrictions, which has left them scrambling to put bylaws on the books by the deadline.
WILBRAHAM — It was standing room only at the Jan. 6 Select Board meeting as about two dozen residents attended to express their concern about the future of the community garden. For several years, Melissa Graves, the administrative assistant for Wilbraham’s Conservation Commission, has managed the garden outside her normal duties. With Graves’ impending retirement, Wilbraham’s gardeners are wondering what will become of their pastime.
EAST LONGMEADOW — Recycling is more common than ever, with 69.1 million tons recycled in 2018, the latest year for which there is data from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. However, recycling is expensive for cities and towns. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection offers grants as part of its Recycling Dividends Program. This year, East Longmeadow was awarded $17,600.
LONGMEADOW — Hebrew singing carried over the Town Green as scores of families, elected officials and community leaders watched as Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy’s Rabbi Noah Kosofsky lit the sixth torch atop the community’s menorah, commemorating Hanukkah.
AGAWAM — After Dawn McBride was laid off from her job at MGM Springfield due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, she leaned back on her culinary experience with cooking Italian and American food and bought a food truck — The Saucy Mama. Now, she and her husband, Michael McBride, have opened The Saucy Mama grab-and-go kitchen at 1 Cooper St.