West Springfield
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The 3 Most Affordable Places to Live in Massachusetts for 2024
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More Than Meets the Eye
Amherst has a rich array of interesting sights, stories, and architecture dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Recently, the Amherst Historical Commission was asked to weigh in on two demolition permit applications for quite modest buildings that got me thinking more about Amherst’s west side and perhaps generally, about a past era in town when the penetration of residential with commercial, service-industry buildings, barns, and outbuildings was easier to see and was seen as acceptable.
Department of Public Health calls on Medical Reserve Corps to South Hadley nursing home
The Department of Public Health has called on the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and rapid response teams, including nurses and certified nurses aides to assist South Hadley’s Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation. Some local lawmakers have called for an investigation into the facility after reports of inadequate patient care,...
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...
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...
State asks court to place South Hadley’s nursing home in receivership
SOUTH HADLEY — The state has filed a petition seeking to appoint a receiver of Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation and two other nursing homes operated by the same company, BluPoint Healthcare. The Attorney General’s Office filed the receivership petition Friday in Suffolk County Superior Court. The petition was...
8 people hospitalized with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in Somers
SOMERS, Conn. (WTNH) — Eight people were taken to the hospital Sunday after a hot water heater malfunctioned at a home in Somers, causing high levels of carbon monoxide, according to fire officials. Firefighters responded to a home on Grasshopper Lane at 11:49 a.m. Sunday, after receiving a report...
New Owners for Black Walnut Inn
Report on the Meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, July 11, 2024. This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded. It can be viewed here. Craig Meadows, Everald Henry, David Sloviter, and Philip White. Staff: Chris Brestrup (Planning Director), Rob Morra (Building Inspector), and Jacinta Williams (Planner) After...
Annual League of Women Voters Book Sale Begins Friday, July 26
The Annual League of Women Voters Books sale opens on Friday July 26 in the gym at the Fort River Elementary School, 70 Southeast Street. Opening day hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The sale will continue on Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28 and Saturday August 3 and Sunday August 4 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Jones Library Consultant Amps Up the Vitriol
Few would attempt to assail the integrity and commitment to justice of former federal prosecutor and onetime President of the Jones Library Board of Trustees, Sarah McKee. McKee, an occasional contributor to the Amherst Indy, has served as general counsel to INTERPOL and has sat on the board of the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending. A 2009 Washington Post story recounts how she discovered a long-forgotten book which she returned to the Arlington (VA) Central Library along with a check for $25 and a note of apology for the book being 30 years overdue. McKee is also a vocal opponent of the Jones Library demolition-renovation-expansion project.
Conn. fire chief shares volunteer leadership lessons with podcast
SOMERS, Conn. — While he spends a lot of his time talking about firefighting on his weekly podcast, newly hired Fire Chief David Lenart said his first week at his new job was about quietly listening and learning. “So far, everything is going quite well,” said Lenart, who started...
Kubiak and Porter Recommended as Nonvoting Members of Finance Committee
With only three of its five members present, the Governance, Operations, and Legislation (GOL) Committee recommended the appointment of Bernie Kubiak to serve the remaining year of Bob Hegner’s term as a non voting member of the Finance Committee and Thomas Avery Porter to a full three-year term. Hegner was elected to the Town Council in November, 2023. Kubiak has served as a nonvoting member of the Finance Committee since 2018, but his current term has expired. The recommendations will be forwarded to the council for consideration at its August 19 meeting.
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.
Finance Director to Serve on Building Committees, 25 Reappointed to Boards, Commissions, and Committees
In memos to the Town Clerk dated July 9, 2024, Town Manager Paul Bockelman nominated Town Finance Director Melissa Zawadski to fill openings on the Jones Library and Elementary School Building Committees, and 25 people as reappointments to town boards, commissions, and committees. The nominations were unanimously approved on the consent agenda of the Town Council at their meeting on July 15.
Valley Green Energy launches in Amherst, offering residents cleaner electricity
The town of Amherst has announced the upcoming launch of Valley Green Energy, a new program designed to offer Amherst residents and businesses a more sustainable and cost-effective electrical supply.
Opinion: Finally! A Big Step Forward for the Waste Reduction/Curbside Compost Pick Up Initiative
A version of this column appeared previously in the Amherst Bulletin. Conceived as a means to significantly reduce waste and resident costs in Amherst, the waste hauler bylaw proposal is moving forward! This, after several years of wheel spinning. In 2020, Amherst’s Department of Public Works (DPW) received a technical assistance grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protect (DEP) to look at the viability of changing from the current system of subscription hauling services to a town contract with the hauler, obtained through a competitive bidding process, that would include a Pay-As-You-Throw fee structure and universal curbside compost pick up. Currently, residents must either contract directly with USA Hauling and Recycling (USA) or haul their waste to the town’s Transfer Station.
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