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Chester orders customers to boil tap water, starts distributing bottles
CHESTER — The town of Chester started distributing bottled water to customers of its tiny municipal water utility Friday morning after issuing a boil water order. “Our biggest problem as a small town is, there are not many of us,” said Chester town administrator, who is the former Westfield mayor and legislator Donald F. Humason Jr.
2 arrested following federal investigation at Springfield building
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – Authorities have released new information related to an investigation at a Springfield apartment building. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont said that 20-year-old Hussein Iman of Springfield and 37-year-old Joseph Cadorette II of Williamstown, VT are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base.
St. Mark Readies for Annual Armenian Fest Sunday, September 1
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — St. Mark Armenian Church’s Annual Armenian Festival will be held on the church grounds on Sunday, September 1, from 12 to 6 p.m., 2427 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. The Fest, which has become a favorite in the Greater Springfield area, is the parish’s biggest event for nearly 30 years and will feature delicious hot meals, a live Armenian band, dancing, authentic Armenian baked goods and pastries, a raffle, and more.
Exit 7 Youth Players stage ‘James and the Giant Peach’
Some of the Pioneer Valley’s youngest actors have been hard at work at Exit 7 Theater in Ludlow, preparing for their summer production, “James and the Giant Peach.”. A musical based on the children’s book of the same name, “James and the Giant Peach” is “a whimsical and magical journey of one boy out to change his life and find a real family,” according to the Exit 7 website. Andrew Bennett plays James Henry Trotter, a young orphan boy who enters a gigantic peach and meets several garden bugs who help him along his journey.
BSC Devised Theatre Ensemble Presents “The Wild Tale of Skylar Squirrel: Acorny New Musical”
Get ready to support the next generation of theatre artists!. Over the past few weeks, the Barrington Stage Company Devised Theatre Ensemble members came together to write, produce, and put on their own play – THE WILD TALE OF SKYLAR SQUIRREL: ACORNY NEW MUSICAL!. Friday, July 26, 2024 7:00PM.
Erving considers historical demolition delay bylaw
ERVING, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Erving Selectboard is considering a demolition delay bylaw that would allow the historical commission to delay demolitions of historical properties up to one year following a public hearing. Similar bylaws have been adopted across the state and before residents can vote on it, the select board has requested the historical commission further refine details to remove subjectivity in the guidelines where possible.
Boating and Safety Commission tasked with review bylaw for Lake Wyola
SHUTESBURY, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The town of Shutesbury is forming a Boating and Safety Committee to address safety issues at Lake Wyola as the number of boaters and swimmers has increased in recent years. The task force will examine current bylaw, review bylaw enforcement, identify public education...
Fire department pursuing hybrid lane at entrance to Main Street
GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — As the Greenfield fire department settles into their new station, chief Robert Strahan discussed some challenges they are experiencing such as fire engines entering Main Street to get to a fire. Strahan did note that the conditions for entering Main Street are improved over the experience at the former station.
A pilot program supporting those transitioning out of public benefits
Carolyn Martinez was in a predicament. In 2012, the Springfield native was a 25-year-old single mom to three daughters getting by on public aid. She relied on food stamps, disability assistance and cash assistance to make do. Determined to secure a better life for herself and her daughters, she began working another job.
In the battle over banned books, there’s a cold war amid public library shelves
SPRINGFIELD — When digital services librarian Katherine Stapp tries to help patrons of Springfield City Library track down books on sensitive, politically charged subjects, she can’t always find them. She said they have either been stolen or hidden in one of the City Library’s nine branches where no one would think to look.
Agawam 5-year-old takes a stand for kittens in need
Elizabeth Poggi knows what it means to make a difference — at age 5. Elizabeth wanted to run a lemonade stand this summer, and her parents – Rebecca and Richard Poggi – were happy to help. When Elizabeth asked if she could donate proceeds to Dakin Humane Society, her parents not only agreed, they promised to match what she made from her stand.
Westfield resident, parent settling in as new Southampton Rd. School principal
WESTFIELD — Mary “Kate” Ritchie of Westfield is the new principal of the Southampton Road Elementary School, as of July 1. According to Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, who made the announcement, Ritchie came highly recommended from her prior jobs, with one reference stating that she created a “unity among the staff, thereby leading to a more positive work environment. [She] shares our district’s values for creating strong relationships with students and families,” Czaporowski said.
Religion Notes: July 25, 2024
Springfield - The thrift shop at St. Gregory Armenian Church, 135 Goodwin St., in the Indian Orchard section, is open Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, go online to saintgregoryarmenianchurch.org. Church events. Sunderland – First Congregational Church of Sunderland, 91 S. Main St., Serendipity Shop is...
BITS & BYTES: Julie Wosk at Berkshire Museum; Camilo Cárdena at Center for Peace through Culture; Bobby Previte at Hudson Hall; ‘Poor Herman’ at Arrowhead; Cheshire Summer Festival; Berkshire Lyric summer camp; Dalton United Methodist Church VBS
Berkshire Museum presents a talk with Julie Wosk, curator of ‘Imaging Women in the Space Age in the Space Age’. Pittsfield— On Saturday, July 27th at 2 p.m., Berkshire Museum presents Julie Wosk, curator of “Imaging Women in the Space Age in the Space Age,” a talk on images of female astronauts and aviators, as well as space-age females in movies, fashion, and television.
THEATER REVIEW: ‘The Comedy of Errors’ plays at Shakespeare & Company through August 18
This is my favorite Shakespeare comedy; it always has been. I suspect it always will be, and no matter how many times I have seen it, I always crave one more. For this outing in Shakespeare & Company’s outdoor arena theater, The Arthur S. Waldstein, they have chosen a wild, athletic, Vaudeville-style romp. This was an excellent choice for the visual humor and verbal wit that hides the play’s principal plot flaw: mistaken identity. Antipholus of Syracuse is roaming the known world seeking his twin brother, accompanied by his indentured servant and friend Dromio of Syracuse. They have come to Ephesus, where Syracusans are executed for existing, and they are immediately assailed as friends, husbands, and lovers. For some unexplainable reason, this confuses them rather than signaling that their twins must exist in this town. Thank you, Plautus.
Westfield Starfires’ 2nd annual ‘Summer Classic’ set for Sunday at Walker Memorial Grandstand
SPRINGFIELD – The Westfield Starfires are preparing to host the rival Worcester Bravehearts in the second annual Starfires Summer Classic, presented by MGM Springfield, at the historic Michael T. Downey Fields at Walker Memorial Grandstand in Forest Park in Springfield, on Sunday. The event, free admission to the public,...
Longmeadow teen’s poetry book lands on best-seller list
LONGMEADOW — When Cecelia Allentuck, 18, released her book of poems this month, she never imagined it would top the charts as Amazon’s best-seller in the Poetry for Teens & Young Adults category. The book was No. 1 on the new release list and stayed there for nearly two weeks. It was the first time the Longmeadow author has written any kind of book.
State finds evidence of illegal activity at ‘overly loved’ Southwick preserve
SOUTHWICK — Only a week before the Select Board voted to temporarily ban visitors from the North Pond Conservation Area, two state officials conducted the annual assessment of the property and tentatively determined the town wasn’t in compliance with its conservation restriction. “They described it as ‘overly loved,’...
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