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Blandford celebrates Black Revolutionary War patriot

By | Oct 21, 2025

Blandford celebrates Black Revolutionary War patriot

BLANDFORD — Approximately 80 people including generations of descendants, representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Blandford residents and officials turned out for the dedication of the Revolutionary America marker to patriot Jethro Jones on Oct. 11.


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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Chester receives $1.8M in grant funding for town roads

By | Oct 14, 2025

Chester receives $1.8M in grant funding for town roads

CHESTER — Highway Superintendent Charles Dazelle said he was notified recently that the town has been awarded two Community One Stop for Growth grants totaling $1.3 million.


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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Russell Public Library opens ‘Library of Things’

By | Oct 7, 2025

Russell Public Library opens ‘Library of Things’

RUSSELL — Need some new early childhood toys to try out? Want yard games for an outdoor event? Have a tool you need for one job only?


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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Granville Harvest Fair opens Oct. 11 for 42nd year

By | Oct 7, 2025

Granville Harvest Fair opens Oct. 11 for 42nd year

GRANVILLE — The town’s population, which is about 1,600, will swell by a factor of at least five when it opens its 42nd annual Harvest Fair.


Cliff Clark
cclark@thereminder.com |  + posts

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Western Mass. natives among Gaza flotilla detainees reportedly released

By | Oct 2, 2025

Western Mass. natives among Gaza flotilla detainees reportedly released

Two young men with ties to Western Massachusetts were part of an all-volunteer humanitarian aid flotilla intercepted by the Israeli Navy in waters outside of Gaza early the morning of Oct. 2.


Debbie Gardner
dgardner@thereminder.com |  + posts

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Blandford library expansion plans nearing completion

By | Oct 1, 2025

Blandford library expansion plans nearing completion

BLANDFORD — At an informational meeting on Sept. 20, the Porter Memorial Library building committee presented the plans for the library’s expansion which are nearing completion.


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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Russell teen awarded $100,000 Laureate scholarship

By | Sep 23, 2025

Russell teen awarded $100,000 Laureate scholarship

RUSSELL — Elizabeth Hanechak, 18, of Russell has been awarded a $100,000 scholarship for her project, “Solving the Plastic Problem: Developing a Microbial System for the Bioremediation of Plastic Waste into Drinkable Water and Fertilizer Material.”


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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Russell designated as Purple Heart Town

By | Sep 23, 2025

Russell designated as Purple Heart Town

RUSSELL — On Sept. 17, there was a small ceremony hosted at Town Hall to unveil signs that designate Russell as a Purple Heart Town and that it is now part of the Purple Heart Trail which nearly all the way across the country along Route 20.


Cliff Clark
cclark@thereminder.com |  + posts

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New Town Administrator Andrew Alward starts in Chester

By | Sep 8, 2025

New Town Administrator Andrew Alward starts in Chester

CHESTER — Andrew Alward, 27, has started as the new town administrator for Chester, replacing former state senator and representative Donald Humason Jr., who served the town as administrator for the past three years.


Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com |  + posts

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