Hilltowns

Hobo dinner to benefit upkeep, restoration of Chester station

By Amy Porter | Oct 9, 2024

Hobo dinner to benefit upkeep, restoration of Chester station

CHESTER — The annual Hobo Harvest Dinner fundraiser will take place Saturday, Oct. 19, at Chester Railway Station, 10 Prospect St.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Cliff Clark | Oct 9, 2024

GOP state Senate challenger faults ‘corrupt 1-party system’

Voters in the state’s largest Senate district, which covers 57 towns and cities in Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire counties, have a choice between Democratic incumbent state Sen. Paul Mark and Republican David Rosa in this year’s election. The district...

By Tyler Lederer | Oct 7, 2024

Ballot measure approval would allow psychedelic plants

Massachusetts voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether to allow for home growth and therapeutic use of psychedelic plants and fungi, like “magic mushrooms.”

Tyler Lederer

tlederer@thereminder.com | + posts

By Tyler Lederer | Oct 7, 2024

Question asks voters to decide on tipped minimum wage increase

Massachusetts voters will determine Nov. 5 if tipped employees should have the same or lower minimum wage than the state’s standard minimum wage.

Tyler Lederer

tlederer@thereminder.com | + posts

By Amy Porter | Oct 2, 2024

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 authorize the sale of the town’s electric utility to Eversource. But there’s no official offer from Eversource to purchase the Chester Municipal Electric Light Department....

By Cliff Clark | Oct 2, 2024

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...

By Miasha Lee | Sep 25, 2024

Open houses planned at 5 sites on ‘Tri-Town History Trail’

For the second year in a row, the Pioneer Valley History Network will sponsor a “History on the Go” day of open houses in the Westfield area, on Saturday, Oct. 5. The local event, dubbed the Tri-Town History Trail, will highlight local industrial history with stops...

Huntington Food Pantry running raffle to meet year-end needs

By Amy Porter | Sep 25, 2024

Huntington Food Pantry running raffle to meet year-end needs

HUNTINGTON — Since the spring, the Huntington Food Pantry has been reaching out to the communities that it serves for support, something that it has not often done in its decades-long service of providing food to families in more than a dozen area Hilltowns.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Wildlife rehabilitator helps kids open up to ‘one book’

By Amy Porter | Sep 18, 2024

Wildlife rehabilitator helps kids open up to ‘one book’

HUNTINGTON — Reading specialist Margaret Petzold arranged a special visit to Littleville Elementary School on Sept. 12 in advance of the school participating in “One School One Book.”

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Blandford administrator excited to be ‘making a difference’

By Amy Porter | Sep 18, 2024

Blandford administrator excited to be ‘making a difference’

BLANDFORD — Town officials and neighbors gathered at the new patio outside the Porter Memorial Library on Sept. 10 to get acquainted with Cristina Ferrera, the new town administrator who started in the position on July 8.