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The 3 Most Affordable Places to Live in Massachusetts for 2024
It's quite clear that folks from different walks of life enjoy visiting and moving to Massachusetts. If you're looking for a top state to raise a family, Massachusetts checks that box. If you are looking for a state with a sound education, Massachusetts checks that box. If you are looking for a state that has areas of beautiful mountains and wide open spaces along with the downtown hustle and bustle spotlighting live music, art, and high-tech jobs, Massachusetts checks those boxes as well.
Westfield planners OK self-storage on Lockhouse Rd., delay vote on Norton St.
WESTFIELD — The Westfield Planning Board voted July 16 to approve the site plan and stormwater permit required for JML Storage to expand its Lockhouse Road self-storage facility. Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates, representing applicant Matt Rokosz, presented a site plan that addressed the concerns from the board’s...
Springfield schools implement new attendance policy
SPRINGFIELD — Chronic absenteeism has been a struggle for school departments nationwide over the past few years. The Springfield School Committee met on June 20 to approve policy changes designed to remove barriers to attending school. “Chronically absent” is defined by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education...
Chester County Native Taylor Haas New Executive Director of a Massachusetts Agricultural Society
Taylor Haas at the fairgrounds of the Three County Fair. Taylor Haas, a Chester County native, recently took the reins at the Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Agricultural Society in Massachusetts as its new executive director, writes Alexander Macdougall for the Daily Hampshire Gazette. The nonprofit organization manages Northampton’s Three County...
Springfield takes legal action to address former Vibra site
SPRINGFIELD — Overgrown weeds and graffiti on the inside of windowpanes are obvious signs of dereliction at the former Vibra Hospital at 1400 State St. The building was abandoned by Vibra Healthcare in fall 2023. While the city entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the property at the time, Mayor Domenic Sarno said the company has not held up its end of the bargain.
State funding programs to renovate housing in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — The Healey-Driscoll administration has been tackling the state’s housing crisis with construction and renovation grants for apartment complexes, including at least two in the South End neighborhood of Springfield. Northern Heights, a group of 148 affordable and deeply affordable apartments at 769 Main St. is the...
Chester water supply discoloration suspected to be manganese
CHESTER — A Chester water commissioner has confirmed that the town’s drinking water supply is discolored and said that naturally occurring manganese is suspected to be the cause. Commissioner Robert Daley said in an email to The Republican Saturday that the town tested the water supply in June...
Court documents reveal South Hadley nursing home is under receivership
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A South Hadley nursing home is officially under a state receivership along with two other facilities owned by the same company Blupoint Healthcare. All of this after employees at these facilities went weeks without getting paid. Court documents reveal Suffolk County Superior Court has appointed...
New State PAC Seeks To Make An Impact
A new political action committee based in Windsor Locks is hoping to support legislative candidates and policies aimed at making Connecticut a more equitable state, particularly for historically marginalized communities. The PAC, Impact CT, is a nonpartisan Independent Expenditure Committee that will support candidates of any political party who support...
Southwick seeks 3 volunteers to serve on Master Plan Implementation Committee
SOUTHWICK — It’s been more than three months since the Planning Board approved the town’s master plan, Southwick Vision 2040, but it was only last week that the Select Board invited applications for the three seats it will appoint to the implementation committee. “We’d love to have...
Springfield School Committee expresses support as Dinnall takes the helm
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School Committee officially welcomed incoming Superintendent Sonia Dinnall at the July 11 committee meeting. Dinnall received words of support from all members of the School Committee. School Committee member Christopher Collins pointed out that Dinnall is the first “female” school superintendent in the city’s history and said it had been “a long time coming.” He congratulated Dinnall on “breaking that glass ceiling.”
State imposes receiver on Northbridge rehab hospital
Three long-term care facilities owned by Blupoint Healthcare are under temporary receivership after state officials grew worried about staffing levels and poor quality of care, Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office announced Monday. The facilities include Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation in South Hadley, Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation in Northbridge, and Mill Town...
Legislators Celebrate Earmark for Baystate Brightwood Health Center
BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gomez joined state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, representatives of Baystate Health, and community members on July 19 for an earmark-acknowledgement event at Baystate Brightwood Health Center in Springfield, celebrating a pair of amendments secured by the two representatives during last year’s state budget cycle.
Town Announces Launch of Valley Green Energy
Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Sustainability Director Stephanie Ciccarello announced on July 19 a new program that will be offered to Amherst residents and businesses this fall that will lower energy costs in an environmentally sustainable way. Amherst, along with Northampton and Pelham, have signed electricity supply contracts with First...
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