Hilltowns

Chester students learn about nature in visit to Westfield River

By Amy Porter | Jun 25, 2024

Chester students learn about nature in visit to Westfield River

CHESTER — Volunteer and Project Coordinator Meredyth Babcock from the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee made quite a splash at the Chester Elementary School as they engaged students in a three-hour hands-on river ecology and stream study on June 14, said school Principal Vanna Maffuccio.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Elks honor Russell teen for contest-winning patriotic essay

By Mike Lydick | Jun 19, 2024

Elks honor Russell teen for contest-winning patriotic essay

WESTFIELD — Makaylah Motyl thought she was in trouble when she was called to the principal’s office at Gateway Regional Middle School. Instead, she received a check as a winner in an essay contest sponsored by the local Elks lodge.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

Russell voters question increase in vocational school tuition

By Amy Porter | Jun 19, 2024

Russell voters question increase in vocational school tuition

RUSSELL — Thirty-three registered voters attended the Annual Town Meeting on July 10, surpassing the quorum of 25 that were needed to approve the town’s fiscal year 2025 budget of $5.74 million,, an increase of approximately $300,000 over FY24.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Westfield, Sharon young writers inspire Littleville Elementary students

By Amy Porter | Jun 19, 2024

Westfield, Sharon young writers inspire Littleville Elementary students

HUNTINGTON — Littleville Elementary School reading specialist Margaret Petzold arranged a special visit to the school on June 11 from two young authors to speak to second and third graders about writing.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Valedictorian lived Gateway ‘to the fullest’ in sports, classes

By Amy Porter | Jun 11, 2024

Valedictorian lived Gateway ‘to the fullest’ in sports, classes

HUNTINGTON — Alexi Bonenfant of Westfield is the valedictorian for the Gateway Regional High School class of 2024. Bonenfant is the daughter of Matthew Bonenfant, Gateway’s athletic director. She started attending Gateway schools in first grade.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Police funding, livestock bylaw spark Montgomery debate

By Amy Porter | Jun 11, 2024

Police funding, livestock bylaw spark Montgomery debate

HUNTINGTON — Montgomery’s Annual Town Meeting, which was rescheduled from May 20 to June 5 and moved to Gateway Regional High School due to a turnout that had exceeded capacity at Town Hall, brought 143 registered voters to Huntington for the meeting.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Cliff Clark | Jun 11, 2024

Huntington debates employee salaries, budget, backhoe

HUNTINGTON —With an unusually large amount of free cash available this year to the town, most of the discussion from residents during Town Meeting last week was on several articles on the warrant related to using it for increase town employee salaries and fund...

By Amy Porter | Jun 11, 2024

Blandford voters pass all articles, including $4.37M budget

BLANDFORD — Moderator David Hopson asked Blandford Town Meeting voters to keep it civil on June 3 and remember they’re all friends and neighbors, no matter their political differences. As the evening went on, the warning seemed increasingly unnecessary, as the...

By Bill Zito | Jun 6, 2024

Western Mass. senators push priorities in budget debate

Following a vigorous May 23 debate session, the nearly $60 billion budget reached unanimous approval by the Massachusetts state Senate. Members adopted more than 400 of the 1,100 amendments filed, resulting in close to $90 million of additional spending with Western Massachusetts lawmakers maintaining the regions stake in funding.

Bill Zito

bzito@thereminder.com | + posts

Thousands roll in for this year’s Chester on Track festival

By Amy Porter | Jun 5, 2024

Thousands roll in for this year’s Chester on Track festival

CHESTER — David Pierce, president of the Chester Foundation, said this year’s 33rd anniversary Chester on Track on May 18 had close to 2,000 people in attendance at the town-wide festival.