West County Notebook: Aug. 13, 2026

1st Franklin District candidates talk farming, food insecurity at forum

Three candidates for the 1st Franklin District participated in a forum on Tuesday night to discuss their plans for supporting local agriculture and combating food insecurity.

My Turn: Corinne Coryat is ready to meet this moment

On Sept. 1, voters in the 1st Franklin District will be voting for someone to fill the huge hole left by the departure of former Rep. Natalie Blais. This election is critically important to voters concerned about the state’s chronic under-funding of rural schools and the impact of that under-funding on town budgets. Fortunately, there […]

Turners Falls community remembers Jenna Putala

Former Turners Falls softball star Jenna Putala passed away at home after a two-year battle with cancer on Aug. 9. Putala graduated from Turners Falls in 2016. Doctors diagnosed Putala with a rare sarcoma in May of 2024. She was 28-years old. Putala had a legendary career for the Thunder, winning back-to-back state championships during her junior and senior seasons. In the 2016 championship game against Austin Prep, Putala’s RBI double gave pitcher Mackenzie Phillips the only run she would need in a 2-0 Turners Falls victory. At the time, it was the Thunder’s eighth state championship. “I was just looking […]

On the Ridge with Joe Judd: Black bears in New England

The first days of September often arrive as a steamy reminder of the quickly fading summer months. Yet, hints of fall are showing up everywhere. In many of the upper New England states, September signals the opening of fall bear hunting season, with Maine’s season already started (Aug. 31), or about to, by the time […]

Montague and Gill Notebook: Aug. 13, 2026

Performances of ‘Junie B. Jones the Musical Jr.’ start Friday TURNERS FALLS — A weekend of performances of “Junie B. Jones the Musical Jr.” start on Friday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. at JaDuke Theater, 110 Industrial Blvd., followed by a Saturday, Aug. 15 performance at 6 p.m. and a Sunday, Aug. 16 matinee at 2 p.m. The musical features 40 JaDuke Center for the Performing Arts students, and is based on the book series by author Barbara Parks. Junie B. Jones will be played by Grace Dias. Tickets may be purchased in advance at tinyurl.com/2mzs7m78 and will also be available […]