Shutesbury
GOVERNMENT
Several road closures reported due to downed power lines, trees after storm
(WGGB/WSHM) - After a severe storm hits parts of Western Massachusetts, several counties are reporting road closures due to downed power lines and trees. Police and fire departments across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire County are responding and some are even calling extra resources to assist. Officials also remind the...
Update: 3 Massachusetts counties under a tornado warning Tuesday evening
On Tuesday at 8:11 p.m. an updated tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 8:30 p.m. for Franklin, Hampshire and Worcester counties. "At 8:10 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over New Salem, or 10 miles south of Orange, moving east at 55 mph," states the weather service. "Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely."
Aftermath of storm causes power outages, damage across Western Massachusetts
(WGGB/WSHM) - State officials have reported several power outages across Western Massachusetts. Aside from the outages there were multiple road closures from downed power lines and fallen trees. Over 14-hundred homes are still without power and at least three houses were damaged by falling trees in Williamsburg. One tree damaging...
Job Cuts in Massachusetts Soon: Company Lays Off 100 Workers Unexpectedly
WFCN – A state filing indicates that 100 people in Massachusetts will be laid off by an unexpected company by the beginning of September. According to a recent state filing, Yankee Candle Inc. will be shutting down its distribution center and offices in South Deerfield, Mass., on September 9th.
Jones Library Director Suppresses Bad News About Expansion Project
The Jones Library Director has known for over half a year that the nearly $2 million in Historic Tax Credits for the demolition/expansion project were unlikely to materialize, yet that information has only become public in the past few weeks. Library Director Sharon Sharry, as well as the Amherst Historic...
Letter: Jones Library Expansion Project – It’s Time to Move On
The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council and the Jones Library Trustees on July 16, 2024. It’s time for the Amherst Town Council and Jones Library leadership to tell our town that the plan to demolish a large part of our library and replace it with an even larger addition will not happen. The original design for this, now about a decade old, no longer makes sense. That’s because its large and expensive footprint does not sufficiently acknowledge the changes in how information is collected by libraries and retrieved by its users who, much more often than before, are off site and don’t set foot in the building. The COVID pandemic accelerated and highlighted those changes. Just consider how often we participate in official meetings and friendly gatherings via our home computers, and even read our daily and weekly newspapers this way.
Lawmakers seek probe of South Hadley nursing home
Two western Massachusetts lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a South Hadley nursing home, where they claim workers have gone unpaid for weeks and lack the supplies to adequately care for residents.
Failure to Preserve Library Historic Features Leads to $2M Fundraising Setback
No State Tax Credits for Building Project Says Director. At the July 9 Jones Library Building Committee (JLBC) meeting, Amherst Special Projects Coordinator Robert Peirent reviewed $32,500 in library project invoices that the Town is responsible for paying this month. It was announced that to save money, Peirent has taken...
Town Council Considers Changes to Waste Hauling Program
On Monday night, the Town Council heard a presentation by proponents of a plan to make significant changes to the town’s waste hauling bylaw. Following is an explanation of what’s being proposed. What is the proposed new bylaw, in a nutshell?. The proposed amendment to General Bylaw 3.33,...
Personal Property Revaluations coming this month
GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Greenfield Board of Assessors are beginning a comprehensive personal property revaluation this month. Real Estate Research Consultation Inc. has been hired to assist in the execution of the reevaluations, beginning with Greenfield businesses on Tuesday, July 23rd. The Assessors Department encourages every personal property owner to participate in this process, questions can be directed to the Assessors Department at (413) 772-1506.
Historic Commission To Hold Public Hearing on Changes to Jones Library in Late July
Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, July 8, 2024. This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. Robin Fordham (Chair), Hetty Startup, Pat Auth, Madeleine Helmer, Antonia Brillembourg, Mikayla Rasnic. Staff: Nate Malloy and Jacinta Williams (Planning Department) Historical Commission Urged to Develop Guidelines for CPA...
Northampton’s improved Terrace Trails now open to public
NORTHAMPTON – With summer in full force, a recent project to improve a well-loved trail in the city is now complete. In a post on its social media, the Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability announced that the Terrace Trails Accessible Trails project is now open to the public thanks to a Community Health Inclusion Index grant of a little over $21,300 and a partnership between Stavros Independent Living, All Out Adventures and the Office of Planning and Sustainability.
After assassination attempt, 'all eyes on Republican National Convention,' says UMass pollster
Political scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst were in the midst of preparing a national poll on the 2024 Republican campaign agenda, pegged to this week's GOP convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But after Saturday's assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the thrust of the survey will change said Tatishe Nteta,...
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