Greenfield Notebook: Sept. 22, 2026

Shutesbury Select Board seeks new permit conditions after solar project fire

SHUTESBURY — An April fire at a large-scale solar project on Pratt Corner Road is prompting town officials to seek changes to its special permit conditions, aimed at improving safety and offering more protections to the town. Members of the Planning Board told the Select Board Tuesday that they support the concept of reopening the […]

Retired astronaut urges voters to protect democracy at UMass

AMHERST — Five seconds after Columbia Space Shuttle STS-93 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, Catherine “Cady” Coleman felt her stomach lurch. The retired NASA astronaut heard her commander Eileen Collins announce that an electrical short took out two engine controls. A hydrogen leak in the main engine also slowed the shuttle’s velocity, throwing […]

My Turn: A city behind the times

Another year of living in Greenfield, and what can I say, nothing has improved for our family. We are simply the home-owning, tax-paying residents seeking viable retail options. I try to write to your left-wing newspaper maybe once a year with my assessment of the landscape in town from the perspective of a mom with […]

Montague and Gill Notebook: Sept. 21, 2026

Deadline looms for Montague Soapbox Race sign-ups TURNERS FALLS — The deadline to register for the Sept. 27 Montague Soapbox Race is Tuesday, Sept. 22. Online registration is available at montaguesoapboxraces.com/x/18/2026-Montague-Soapbox-RACER-Application. A soapbox cart building party was held at Nova Motorcycles on Sept. 12. Montague Soapbox Race committee members Scott Murphy, Thom Bullock and Mik […]

Susannah Whipps seeks reelection to 2nd Franklin District seat

State Rep. Susannah Whipps is seeking reelection to represent the 2nd Franklin District as an unenrolled candidate in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.