Most days in Greenfield you can find us talking with our neighbors at our three favorite local stops: the Public Library We listen closely to what our community friends say about the challenges facing our city The subject of affordable housing is a frequent topic People are concerned about the easing of regulations for developers the conflict between private profits versus affordable housing When accessory dwelling units (ADUs) first came to Greenfield a decade ago they were all about bringing families closer The new state mandate has changed from “in-law apartments” to investor profits ADUs no longer must be “owner occupied.” They can be built “by right” without any notice to the neighbors This opens the door for absentee landlords and real estate investors we’ve seen not only new ADU regulations proposed but zoning changes that allow corporations to own up to four-dwelling units by right multi-family houses in more areas of the city We’ve seen no evidence that deregulation creates affordable housing We have not met anyone in Greenfield who wants to build more than one ADU in their backyard Very few homeowners have the money to build one ADU especially given the high cost of construction The people who can build more than one ADU are land speculators and real estate investment trusts state law allows the first ADU to be “protected” from all local zoning the City Council holds a public hearing on a citizen proposal for a “one ADU on one lot” limit We asked the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities: “Are cities required to allow multiple ADUs on a single lot?” The answer was: “It’s a local option whether to allow more than one ADU per lot.” This is how we can limit developers from maximizing profits Towns like Conway and Shutesbury are proposing one ADU per lot A member of the Conway Planning Board told us: “Conway’s Principal Dwellings may yield no more than one protected unit ADU It doesn’t provide any mechanism for additional ADUs of any type.” The Greenfield Economic Development Committee (EDC) minutes of its March meeting states: “Concern was raised that developers view ADUs as a lucrative incentive to make large quantities of money in the smallest amount of space and there should be a limit on the number of ADUs that could be built on a lot.” We have 5,525 residential lots in Greenfield If we allow every parcel to contain 1 ADU with no special permit — that’s legal — and very generous That’s nearly six times higher than the state projects for Greenfield we found a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) study that highlighted Santa Cruz California’s “award-winning” ADU Development Program which “has been used as a model for other communities.” Santa Cruz requires owners to live on the property and “no more than one ADU per lot” is allowed That’s how you keep the focus on family — not profits We also found a recent opinion piece in The Boston Globe written by two citizens coalitions in Cambridge who warn that “speculative investment has exacerbated the housing crisis Developer profits have been prioritized over housing affordability.” They conclude that corporate buyers “can inflate costs by adding the need for investor profits to rents … If the city truly wants to address its housing crisis it must abandon the myth that deregulation will solve the problem.” A commitment to keep housing affordable does not mean “a free pass for developers.” EDC Chair Councilor Derek Helie said it best at an April 8 public hearing: “I know housing is a crisis for a lot of people but I also believe in responsible development … The state gives us the ability to allow one ADU on a lot We urge neighbors to email citycouncil@greenfield-ma.gov before May 8 urging councilors “to vote for ‘One ADU on One Lot.’ Affordability requires a commitment to keep housing accessible — not inviting developers to keep rents high.” We have only one chance to ask councilors to focus on affordable housing — not private profit Joan Marie Jackson and Mitch Speight live in Greenfield and have testified at the state and local levels on homeowner’s rights such as the recent successful Home Equity Theft campaign and the new Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund Committee you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Greenfield's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of workplace concerns and the city's Police and Fire Commission will be appointing an acting police chief Chief Jay Johnson was placed on leave April 25 Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke said in an April 30 statement issued by the city in response to media inquiries Neitzke said the city is conducting an "independent review of recent workplace concerns." fair process and to maintain the continued safety and effective service of the Greenfield Police Department for our community,” Neitzke said in the statement When contacted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Neitzke said he had no further information to share The city scheduled a special Police and Fire Commission meeting for 6 p.m April 30 to discuss the appointment of an acting police chief Inquiries to the Greenfield Police and Fire Commission were not immediately returned Johnson was appointed chief on April 4, 2019 according to the City of Greenfield's official website He began his law enforcement career in March 1992 after serving two years with the Town of Brookfield Police Department Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com — The chief of the Greenfield Police Department has been placed on paid administrative leave Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke confirmed Chief Jay Johnson was placed on leave effective Friday while the city conducts an independent review of "recent workplace concerns." Watch: Greenfield police chief placed on paid administrative leave Neitzke said the city will not provide additional details at this time According to his bio on the city's website Johnson first began working for the Greenfield Police Department in 1992 and captain before being appointed as chief in 2019 Johnson did not reply to TMJ4's request for comment You can read Neitzke's full statement below: TMJ4 is working to learn more about this developing story and will update you on air and online as more information becomes available Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo Add Comment|1BHPBHP Group Ltd$48.74-0.18%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime Vicuña Corp., the 50/50 joint venture between BHP BHP and Lundin Mining LUNMF, has updated the mineral resource estimate for its flagship Filo del Sol project in Chile's Atacama region, fortifying its status as the globally leading greenfield copper project "Filo del Sol has been one of the most significant greenfield discoveries in the last 30 years and an amazing journey for all those that have been involved," said Jack Lundin "The initial Mineral Resource has highlighted the potential for one of the highest-grade undeveloped open pit copper projects in the world and one of the largest gold and silver resources globally." The updated resource estimate reveals a measured and indicated (M&I) sulphide resource of 606 million tons at a copper-equivalent (CuEq) grade of 1.14% This resource includes 4.5 million tons of copper Inferred resources have grown significantly it represents a 29% increase in M&I copper resources and a 650% rise in inferred copper resources compared to previous estimates This expansion confirms Vicuña as the largest greenfield copper discovery in recent history ranking among the top 10 global copper deposits The newly released Josemaria estimate adds 196 million tons at 0.73% CuEq in M&I categories further bolstering the region's profile with nearly 1 million tons of copper The high-grade core at both projects will provide critical feedstock in the early years of operation offering strong economics and scalability as the company looks to recoup initial investments Join Plus500 today and get up to $200 to start trading real futures then jump into live markets with lightning-fast execution making it suitable for lower-cost heap-leach processing high-grade oxide and sulphide zones are still open at depth and along strike with recent drilling encountering mineralization well beyond the current resource pit shells indicating substantial upside for future growth BHP and Lundin Mining established the Vicuña joint venture last year, following a $3 billion acquisition of Filo Corp. This joint venture integrates the Filo del Sol and Josemaria projects into a unified mining district, reducing capital expenditures through shared infrastructure. A consolidated technical report, which will outline the roadmap toward development and production, is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026. Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime Momentum30.35Growth-Quality67.71Value74.86Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewLUNMFLundin Mining Corp$8.00-5.58%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs© 2025 Benzinga.com Benzinga does not provide investment advice free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about and trade ideas delivered to your inbox every weekday before and after the market closes the Adair County Communication Center received a 911 call for a stabbing that occurred in the 200 block of NE 4th St  Officers from the Greenfield Police Department arrived and located a deceased Hispanic male inside the residence was taken into custody without incident and transported the Adair County Jail A second victim was also identified in the residence and suffered non-life-threatening injuries  The names of the victims are not being released pending notification of family  Law enforcement considers this to be an isolated incident and there is no active threat to the community Yudiel Vega-Blanco has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree a Class A felony and Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury The Greenfield Police Department is being assisted by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  and no further details are being released at this time.Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state It includes seven divisions and several bureaus and federal government agencies and the private sector to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center Professional Development and Support Services Division The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor https://dps.iowa.gov  © 2024 State of Iowa - Read our accessibility, data, and privacy policies Greenfield changed its zoning rules to allow a single-family home to be converted into a two- or three-family dwelling — by right This goes beyond the state law which only allows a two-family home by right Now the city is considering whether to give developers yet another right to have multiple accessory dwelling units on a single lot But state law says no city has to allow multiple ADUs on a parcel We have the right as a “local option” to choose to set the bar at one per lot and we have more than 5,500 residential lots That gives us plenty of opportunity to build ADUs We are already allowing a lot of dwelling units by right It’s time to draw the line at one ADU per lot and prevent major overcrowding in our neighborhoods The City of Greenfield has appointed an acting police chief following the announcement that Police Chief Jay Johnson was placed on paid administrative leave The Greenfield Police and Fire Commission appointed Assistant Police Chief Eric Lindstrom to be the acting chief on April 30 Johnson was placed on leave April 25 pending a review of “workforce concerns,” according to the city The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has submitted open records requests to the city to obtain more information According to the city’s website Lindstrom has been with the department since 2003 and is certified to instruct officers in several specialized enforcement areas He was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2015 and later to captain and tactical commander Since 2020, Lindstrom has also served as the team commander for the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team leading investigations into officer-involved deaths The Amherst Invitational Ultimate Tournament took place over the weekend with the Four Rivers girls taking second place overall after falling to Amherst in the championship game The game was knotted 8-8 at the end of regulation and after both teams traded possessions for at least 20 minutes in overtime the Hurricanes broke through to score the game-winning point Four Rivers reached the championship game after beating Arlington (9-4) and Columbia (12-7) Northfield Mount Hermon School was the winner in the girls second division after taking down Winchester NMH beat Winchester (8-4) and Four Rivers JV (12-2) to reach the title game The Four Rivers boys went 1-1 in pool play before taking sixth place overall Crumpin-Fox Club held its opening scramble of the season on Sunday Val Esquer and Peter LaBarbara taking first with a score of 62 Erik Abramson and Jodi Hoynoski shot the low net of 56 8 inches) while Blake Waidlich won it on No Dezmond Jurkowski and Andrew Martinez (two goals) scored while Chazz Badillo had an assist and Ryan Malek made three saves in Greenfield United U12’s 3-2 win over Enfield on Saturday Maxwell Gilman-Goddard and Julian Hake each had two goals while Henry Gannon Hake and Boston Westerman each had two assists and Elias Koppenheffer made three saves in Greenfield U8’s 9-1 win over Granby Saturday River Shurman scored four goals and had an assist Liam Boeding and Francis Zaccara dished assists while Rowen Murphy made three saves in Greenfield U8’s 5-0 win over Westfield Saturday Anthony Ruggeri and Riley Gray each had a hit in Maniatty’s win Saturday Malcolm Tyler and Paul Budrewich both had two hits and Owen Castine hit safely for Smitty’s Ruggeri Real Estate 18 — Calvin Burlap drove in a run Shea Nicholas had three hits and Jayden Howell had four hits and pitched in Fitzgerald’s AA win Saturday Roman French had three hits while Liam Marguet and Soren Klick hit safely in the loss Freedom Credit Union 8 — Griffin McCloud had three hits and three RBIs while Ezrah Cooley added four hits in Sweet Lucy’s Rookie win Saturday Cater Chadwick and Patrick Doel both had three hits in the loss Brady Bernard and Lucas Pendleton each had a hit in Cherry Rum’s win Saturday Brysen Earl had four hits while Summer Vera-Dreyer had three hits for Parody Gruber and Tripp 4 — Abraham Walker and Wyatt Lapine tripled while Parker Clough-Campagna doubled in Ginger Cat’s win Saturday EJ Morley and Weston Sibley each had two hits in the loss My most recent issue of Massachusetts Wildlife explains that relocating wild animals is both harmful and illegal if you were removed from your home and randomly “relocated” to a place where you had never been before and were given no money and locating and obtaining the basic necessities in this circumstance would be incredibly difficult.” Uh-huh This is the situation facing migrants who have lived in the United States for 10 or 20 years and are deported back to their “home” countries It seems that the rabbit in your backyard enjoys more protections than the migrant who has lived in your neighborhood for 20 years its treatment of non-citizens is the most alarming if only because the line that this administration draws between citizens and non-citizens is razor thin and has already been crossed more than once Firefighters were called to 88 Phillips St Fire Chief Robert Strahan said firefighters saw a “well-involved” fire in the garage with the fire extending into the house and up the side of the home damaged a home and garage Thursday evening Firefighters knocked down the blaze in about 15 minutes according to Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan in Greenfield damaged a home and garage Thursday evening GREENFIELD — No injuries were reported Thursday evening after a fire that started in a garage spread to the house next to it on Phillips Street Fire Chief Robert Strahan said initial crews saw heavy smoke conditions calling in mutual aid from surrounding towns Firefighters saw a “well-involved” fire in the garage “Crews were able to knock down the bulk of the fire in the garage and then went in and were able to knock the fire inside the building down,” Strahan said “There is some extensive damage to the second and first floors of the building and the garage sustained major damage.” Strahan said there was a family in the house who escaped with no injuries but he was unsure how many people were in the home He added the habitability of the home was “to be determined.” said he was in his backyard with a friend when he noticed the smoke which caused him to bring his hose over to try to extinguish it we ran mine over the fence and were trying to do our best and it escalated like that Then things escalated as we all retreated back to a safe distance.” Strahan credited firefighters from his department for their work in extinguishing the fire quickly before more damage could occur “Crews arrived very quickly and were able to start extinguishing very quickly,” Strahan said Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com I am interested in the illusion of worth that money gives to individuals since money in and of itself is dead It is comprised of metal or pieces of paper mixed with cloth It is only the human agreement as to how much the paper or metal is worth that allows us to purchase objects with it along with other self-serving people in power around the world Here the wholesale firing of thousands of government workers doing important jobs in the name of saving money is proof enough tearing immigrant families apart can be added to the very long and ever-growing list People who make decisions such as these choose money for themselves over the well-being of others of having the right to deceive and do whatever they want Strip away the money and they are exposed as needy It is interesting to ponder the image Donald Trump would project without the veneer of power his money gives him I think we can agree it should go back to us through employment Another area of concern is the use of the word ‘hysterical’ I read in letters to the editor and hear some in government calling those who are protesting the current money and power grab “hysterical.” I wonder who voted for Trump and now can’t sell their crops because of his tariffs Or the retirees worked up because the Social Security benefits they have contributed to their whole working lives may be cut Or the countless others who have lost access to their jobs I certainly don’t remember that word being tossed around about those who attacked the Capitol on January 6th Or Elon Musk brandishing a chainsaw with glee as he was about to undercut thousands of hardworking Americans And how about the people willing to foment a civil war when Trump lost in 2020 Hysterical could certainly be applied there as well This word “hysterical” was created in Victorian England to describe women who were emotional because every avenue to self-expression and power was denied them the word “hystera” is Greek for womb or uterus.) The terms hysteria and hysterical were created by men in power who would rather demonize women and hold onto power than understand what women needed and work together with them to adjust society accordingly curiosity and compassion are required to understand the needs behind people’s emotions no matter where on the political or personal spectrum we need to understand and then create a society in which everyone is empowered a society in which everyone’s needs are met — no exceptions Marian Kelner is a teacher and writer living in Greenfield Northfield’s town election is on Tuesday and there is a race for Selectboard I want to share some information about one of the candidates Barbara Brassor grew up in Northfield and graduated from PVRS Her brother and sister and niece and nephew still live in town and she and her husband Dave raised their two girls here They keep a garden and brought their girls through 4H and Barb continues to help the kids with 4H at their daughter’s dairy farm in Gill She spent many years working and volunteering in the community and has walked in Greenfield’s Relay for Life for 25 years to raise money for cancer research — a quiet act of care and commitment comes from a lifetime of showing up: in schools and through the relationships she’s built raising her family here Her widespread support is emblematic of her demonstrated care for the community but it is not the primary reason I believe Barb would be an excellent addition to the Selectboard Barb has spent 37 years working in town halls — first in Bernardston as town clerk for six years then in Northfield in various roles: town clerk She brings a wealth of knowledge about the history of Northfield’s municipal structure and finances along with a hands-on understanding of the nitty-gritty details and day-to-day operations of town government Her knowledge would be an invaluable addition to the board She has shown composure under duress and handled herself admirably in the face of harassment As someone who has experienced such behavior firsthand I admire her ability to keep her composure and willingness to be accountable to the people of Northfield would make Barb an excellent addition to the Selectboard Please join me in considering Barbara Brassor for a seat on the NorthfieldSelectBoard GREENFIELD — Only a week before they will be put to a special City Council vote on Thursday the Planning Board voted unanimously to not recommend four proposed zoning amendments that would regulate accessory dwelling units in a roughly 45-minute public comment period expressed a range of opinions on the proposals with some speaking strongly in opposition and others in support the proposed amendments — brought forth through a citizen’s petition from residents Al Norman Joan Marie Jackson and Mitchell Speight — would mandate that the Greenfield Housing Authority provide deed-restrictive rental housing vouchers for ADUs The vouchers would be for low-income households to limit rental costs to 30% of the household’s income or less The amendments also would alter the city’s ordinance to consider units that exist within a principal dwelling as ADUs limit the number of ADUs allowable on a single-family lot to only one and mandate that any ADU that requires a special permit be brought before the Planning Board for a site plan review homeowners can subsidize their existing one-family [home] to up to three apartments by right The provision has proved to be a sound policy over time and it shouldn’t get changed,” Susan Worgaftik coordinator of the advocacy organization Housing Greenfield said in opposition of the proposed amendment to redefine ADUs “We should maintain our present definition of ADU as a structure in addition to the primary dwelling.” Worgaftik also spoke against the proposed amendment to limit the number of ADUs allowable on a single-family lot to one a special permit is needed to build more than one ADU on a single-family property Some in the audience argued that the amendments would prevent developers from buying single-family lots and maximizing their profits by building and renting ADUs “Constituents that we talk to are concerned about the expansion of developer deregulation The conflict is between investor profits versus affordable housing,” Jackson said “The new state mandate has changed from in-law apartments to investor profits The old model of ADUs has been turned upside down They can be built by right without any notice to the neighbors or abutters This opens the door for absentee landlords and real estate investors.” the Planning Board voted unanimously to negatively recommend each of the four proposed zoning amendments Board members agreed that the Greenfield Housing Authority’s spending is not under the Planning Board’s purview and that altering the definition of an ADU to include internal units would too heavily infringe on property owners’ rights to convert their single-family homes into duplexes “This [amendment] interferes with the buyer’s right for the residents to build inside their residences,” Planning Board member Victor Moschella said This is the whole thing about if you have a primary home and you want to cut it down Moschella added that the proposed regulation limiting ADU construction to one unit per single-family lot is unreasonable as construction of more than one unit is already restricted by the special permit process He also argued against the claim that ADU provisions would attract housing developers who wish to turn a profit “The first [ADU] is protected but anything after that is required to go through the special permit process People should be able to do what they want with their properties … and there’s a mechanism for the citizens to speak out against it [through the special permit process],” Moschella said We need to make housing as easy to build as possible Investors and outside people coming and buying and creating ADUs — I don’t buy that.” The proposed amendments will be further discussed and put to a full City Council vote at the May 8 meeting Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429 — Vehicle fire extinguished at Sanderson and Federal streets was arrested at Main and Federal streets on two warrants as well as on charges of threatening to commit a crime and violating an abuse prevention order was arrested on Federal Street on two warrants — Hazardous conditions reported at Main and Franklin streets — Report of malicious destruction investigated on Federal Street — Two-vehicle collision reported at the Interstate 91 rotary involving a gray 2010 Subaru Outback and a white 2010 ES350 was arrested on Grinnell Street on a warrant — Following a traffic stop on Wilson Avenue was arrested on charges of OUI-liquor over .08% driving at a rate of speed greater than what was reasonable and proper and negligent operation of a motor vehicle — Shoplifting reported at Aubuchon Hardware on Federal Street — Shoplifting reported at Green Fields Market was arrested on a charge of shoplifting by asportation — A 15-year-old juvenile was arrested on the bike path on Riverside Drive on a charge of assault and battery was arrested on Chapman Street on a warrant — Report of assault and/or battery investigated at Charlene Manor Extended Care on Colrain Road — Suspicious activity reported on Wells Street was arrested on a charge of walking/riding on railroad tracks — Report of breaking and entering on Conway Street was arrested on High Street on two warrants was arrested on High Street on a charge of assault and battery on person over 60/disabled — Suspicious activity reported at the Greenfield Public Library — Report of illegal dumping investigated on Colrain Road — Security alarm sounding at Smokey Leaf Dispensary on Bank Row 1 singles against Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts Friday 1 singles against Frontier at the Davis Street Courts Friday 2 singles against Frontier at the Davis Street Courts Friday 2 singles against Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts Friday 3 singles against Frontier at the Davis Street Courts Friday Frontier's Oliver Brown returns a volley against Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts Friday Greenfield's Noah Chambers returns a volley in No 1 doubles against Frontier at the Davis Street Courts Friday Frontier's Noah Nichols returns a volley in No 1 doubles against Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts Friday Frontier's Xavier Fripp returns a shot in No Greenfield's Ben Russell returns a shot in No The Frontier boys tennis team keeps adding tallies to the win column Taking on Greenfield at the Davis Street Courts on Friday the Redhawks took two of the singles matches and swept doubles to walk away with a 4-1 victory and improve to 9-1 on the season 2 singles while Oliver Brown walked away with a 6-4 Xavier Fripp and Noah Nichols pulled away with a 6-0 1 doubles while Liam Wells and Matt Sibley earned a 6-2 Palmer King had the lone win of the day for the Green Wave The senior recorded her third-straight no-hitter on Friday striking out 17 — to go over 600 strikeouts for her career — while drilling a two-run home run in the first a double in the third and a triple in the plate as the Eagles hit the 10 win mark with a victory in Palmer Kylee Gamache recorded a pair of hits and RBIs Lindsey Taylor had two hits including a double and an RBI Abi Dobias tallied a hit and an RBI while Gianna DiSciullo Shelby O’Leary and Ava Worden each hit safely for Franklin Tech Northampton 0 (5) — MacKenzie Paulin struck out 11 while adding a single a home run and five RBIs as the plate as the Green Wave scored 12 in the second and eight in the third to take down the Blue Devils at Vets Field Friday Anna Bucala tallied three hits and five RBIs Grace Laurie finished with four hits including a triple to go along with two RBIs Olivia Lemay had four hits including a double doubled and drove in two while Sophia Rotkiewicz added two hits and an RBI for Greenfield which finished with 24 hits in the victory Lenox 0 — Logan Cormier kept the Millionaire bats at bay throughout throwing a complete game shutout while striking out 13 not surrendering a walk and scattering just three hits as the Bears pulled out an independent victory in Athol Friday “It’s always nice to win a game when your bats don’t show up,” Athol coach Josh Talbot said “Logan was in control today and the boys were great behind him He had four pitches working today and was able to go the distance without running his pitch count up.” The Bears’ lone run came in the first inning Greenfield 1 — A five-run third inning powered the Panthers to a 12th-straight victory following a Suburban League West triumph over the Green Wave in Northfield on Friday Ethan Quinn went the distance on the mound for Pioneer Ethan Mauthe knocked a pair of hits and drove in two runs Braeden Tsipenyuk cracked two hits while Evan Tsipenyuk and Ben Werner hit safely for the Panthers Conner Bergeron and Luca Siano had the hits for Greenfield with Caleb Thomas striking out five on the mound in the loss Easthampton 5 — The Redhawks led 7-1 after four before the Eagles cut it down to 7-5 in the seventh Catcher Kaden James switched to the mound and earned the save for Frontier to deliver it a Suburban League West victory on Friday in Easthampton Henry Drinker singled twice while Brady Poreda Austin D’Urso and Porter Hall each hit safely for the Redhawks Franklin Tech 1 — George Gutierrez singled who dropped an independent contest to Mount Everett on Friday in Turners Brody Hicks added a base hit while Gavin Crossman pitched well in the loss for Franklin Tech Mahar 1 (5) — Matt Vitello tallied a pair of hits for the Senators who fell to the Bulldogs in Turners Friday Frontier 1 — The Redhawks rallied to win the third set but the Golden Eagles proved to be too much in a four-set victory on Friday evening Tegan Dexter (10 digs) and Will Reading combined for 13 kills Tavo Vincent-Warner dished out 20 assists and added four aces and Nate Rivera put down six kills Americans’ voting rights are under assault from pending legislation and a presidential executive order Led by the League of Women Voters (LWV) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Americans are fighting back against attempts to make it harder for millions of eligible voters to have their voices heard House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — a top priority of the current administration — and it now goes to the Senate The SAVE Act would potentially disenfranchise millions of voters by requiring all voter registrations and updates (new address party affiliation or name changes) to be done in-person According to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice more than 20 million American citizens of voting age don’t have ready access to such proof of citizenship documents millions of rural voters would have to travel significant distances to register to vote or update any changes  The alleged aim of the SAVE Act is to prevent non-citizen voting something numerous investigations and studies have shown to be extremely rare The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 already requires states to use a form that includes confirmation of citizenship Rather than wait for Congress to vote on the SAVE Act President Donald Trump signed the executive order “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” The executive order seeks to impose new rules on federal elections with the addition of a documentary-proof-of-citizenship requirement on the federal voter registration form Eighteen states currently permit time for counting mail ballots posted before but received after Election Day The Constitution gives the power to regulate federal elections to Congress and the states challenging the legality of the executive order claiming that it violates the constitutional separation of powers and the National Voting Rights Act On April 24 a federal judge ruled to temporarily block the implementation of the executive order’s proof of citizenship requirement when registering to vote via the federal form this injunction preserves the status quo where would-be-voters already affirm under penalty of perjury that they are U.S “The League of Women Voters is heartened by this ruling which is a major victory for voters across the country,” said Marcia Johnson chief counsel of the League of Women Voters of the United States we’re glad the court agreed that a President cannot ‘short-circuit’ Congress and unilaterally use an illegal executive order to obliterate the rights of millions of voters … particularly women voters.” Take action to help protect everyone’s right to vote by thanking Andrea Joy Campbell who along with 19 state AGs sued to block Trump’s executive order Thank Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for opposing the SAVE Act Ask your friends and family in red and purple states to call or write to their U.S Senators to oppose the SAVE Act and the president’s elections executive order because these draconian measures make it harder for all Americans — Independents The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization with expertise in voting and elections Its mission is to empower voters and defend democracy MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is proud to announce the groundbreaking of its new state-of-the-art sustainable the new facility will primarily focus on serving the protein segment providing tailored packaging solutions and meeting the growing demand for high-quality "We are thrilled to break ground and invest in our company and the city of Waterloo," said John Berry "This facility represents our dedication to growing in markets where we want to compete advancing our capabilities and ensuring our customers receive quality and reliable products We look forward to our continued future in Waterloo and are very grateful to everyone who has made today possible." The Waterloo box plant will feature cutting-edge technology and equipment enabling International Paper to deliver innovative and sustainable packaging solutions The plant's design incorporates the latest safety practices and industry technology The new facility is currently scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026 and create an estimated 65 new jobs to the current facility with a total of 190 team members International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) (the "Company") today reported first quarter 2025 net earnings (loss) of $(105) million LSE: IPC) ("IP") today announced that the company has entered into exclusive negotiations with PALM Group of Germany.. Paper, Forest Products & Containers Environmental Products & Services Corporate Expansion Do not sell or share my personal information: We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money GREENSBURG – Arnola Carol “Nonie” (Leary) Cecil, age 95, of Greensburg, IN passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025. She was born in Mohawk, Indiana on December 1, 1929 to Leoran Claude Leary and Percie Irene (Wallace) Martin. She... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Arnola "Nonie" Cecil created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories GREENSBURG – Arnola Carol “Nonie” (Leary) Cecil Send flowers to Arnola "Nonie"'s Visitation A 29-year-old Bernardston man was airlifted from Greenfield to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield following a motorcycle crash in Deerfield on Tuesday ERVING — A Northfield motorcyclist was killed following a collision with a pickup truck at the intersection of Prospect Street and Route 63 in Erving at around 4:30 p.m was transported by Northfield EMS to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield according to the State Police Office of Media Relations The truck’s driver was not injured or charged with a crime That crash was one of two Franklin County motorcycle crashes in a short period of time Tuesday A 29-year-old Bernardston man was airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with a lower right leg injury following a single-vehicle crash on River Road in Deerfield that occurred at around 4:45 p.m. according to Deerfield Police Chief John Paciorek Jr South County EMS transported the man to the helipad adjacent to Baystate Franklin Medical Center and Greenfield Middle School where a LIFE STAR helicopter was already stationed Paciorek said the Deerfield crash remains under investigation by Police Officer Marissa Smith While attending the April 5 “Hands-Off” rally in Santa Fe along with 2,000 others I couldn’t help noticing that many of us were long in the tooth which inspired some humorous conversations along the lines of “Ain’t you sick and tired of doing this?” My first protest rally was in 1966 I’m still waiting for my check from George Soros I recently watched videos of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s whirlwind tour throughout Red State America holding rallies of tens of thousands and raising some righteous hell condemning the Trump-Musk regime for destroying the American Dream we’ve always cherished as a birthright This in glaring comparison to the comatose Republican Congress whose members remain subservient lapdogs What was encouraging about the Sanders/AOC events was that many in the crowds were young folk who not only enthusiastically applauded Uncle Bernie but gave him standing ovations especially when he defended a woman’s right over her own body This right is being threatened in some of the more primitive states where legislation is under way to send women to prison if they get an abortion men who impregnate and then abandon them and their baby are never charged with a crime I had been thinking lately about the younger generation of Americans mainly those in their late teens to early thirties because they are the ones who will have to live in the wreckage of the United States after the current administration is done with it I lived through the great movements that struggled to gain equal rights for women Rights which those growing up have taken for granted Rights which are now being threatened by the most ruthless reactionary and corrupt government I’ve witnessed in my long life What would I say to the next generation and what should they remember Donald Trump is not only a perverse anomaly but the true definition of the kind of person you never want to be lawlessness and chaos and these life choices are deliberate he has surrounded himself with those who share his same toxic attitudes Be aware that Trump’s attacks on colleges and universities have nothing to do with “combating anti-Semitism on campus.” He could care less seeing that he once referred to neo-Nazis chanting “Jew will not replace us” back in August 2017 as nice people Trump’s MAGA movement is anti-intelligence because it’s easier to lie to people and control them if you encourage ignorance It’s not a surprise that his cult is also targeting other promoters of learning such as libraries According to their carefully crafted falsehoods libraries are infested by hordes of drag queens and teachers who can barely afford pencils and notebooks for their students and are using highly sophisticated and expensive medical equipment to perform sex changes in their classrooms MAGA is targeting gay and trans kids in the name of “protecting Christian values’ while real Christians practice love tolerance and inclusion as preached by Jesus of Nazareth You young people are living in one of the most critical periods of American and global history The United States you were raised to believe in is in the process of being transformed from a flawed but vital democracy into a corrupt racist and authoritarian dictatorship where respect for our constitutional values will be undermined if not outright eradicated I suggest you read up and memorize the Bill of Rights that guarantees the freedoms of the press Learn as much as you can about the history of the United States from every perspective before it is white-washed by the supremacists in Trump’s cabinet Venerate those Americans who fought for justice truth and equality before mention of them is deleted from government websites gather together to form reading groups in your own homes I would suggest the timeless “1984” by George Orwell which could be a playbook for the current government Protect your friends who are gay or immigrants from bullies and stand up to any adult who targets them tolerance and moral courage are the true values you wish to emulate and values to pass on to your children and grandchildren Brown lived in Franklin County for 44 years and has written a monthly My Turn column for over two decades Ashlynn Faith Terry-Simon and James Gregory Vallejos Rhylie Mae Vautour and Nynaeve Ishbel Zale Evan Thomas Piscitello and Cory Matthew Tanner Asher Erskine Scherer Williams and Nevaeh Capri Woods High Honors: Scarleth Amelie Aranda Lebron Stellina May Moore and Vivienne Grace Soucy Dylan Michael Roy and Clayde Issac Thompson Lana Joyce Sullivan and John Paul Vallejos Matthew Anthony Vitello and Zachary Robert Winship Matthew Bryant Rau and Coren Alexander Squire Greenfield firefighters work to extinguish a fire at 16 Devens St GREENFIELD — The cause of a fire that scorched the back of a four-family house at 16 Devens St Thursday afternoon remains under investigation While crews worked to tear down burned areas along the house’s exterior wall Strahan said residents were home when firefighters responded to the house for a reported fire shortly after 3 p.m we found fire in the rear side of the building extending up the exterior wall make sure the building was clear,” Strahan said at approximately 3:30 p.m “There’s no injuries at this time and the fire’s out.” Strahan said he was unsure if the home was insured and that it was “too soon to tell” if any of its residents would be displaced Greenfield and Turners Falls firefighters responded I am writing to express my strong support for Dan Campbell as the most qualified candidate to fill the vacant seat on the Northfield Selectboard He is conscientious and dedicated as evidenced by his long service to the town As a member of the Finance Committee for over 20 years he possesses a deep understanding of our town and school budgets our financial strengths and vulnerabilities and a keen awareness of the pressures and concerns of Northfield taxpayers As town clerk for 10 years and assistant town clerk for two years he knows the townspeople and has served as part of the excellent Town Hall employee team that our town administrator has built over the past several years he was co-chair of the Pioneer Valley Regional Building Committee during a period of renovation and expansion I recognize that these are impressive qualifications for a Selectboard candidate what really makes Dan the best candidate for this position is his ability to work with people his sincere interest in our town and his honesty He understands the importance of treating citizens town officials and employees with respect and possesses openness to new ideas He is the candidate who is supportive of professional town management and will work with our town administrator and other members of the Selectboard to move the town forward Please vote for Dan Campbell for NorthfieldSelectboard Tents fill part of Boylston Place in Boston an alley running along part of Emerson College’s campus BOSTON — The number of antisemitic incidents reported in Massachusetts was essentially unchanged in 2024 though officials with the Anti-Defamation League said the total is “part of a troubling long-term trend” of heightened harassment Massachusetts recorded 438 antisemitic incidents in 2024, one fewer than in 2023, representing the fifth-highest number of incidents of any state in the country, the Anti-Defamation League said in its annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents The group said the number of antisemitic incidents here has spiked 188% since 2022 co-chair of the Legislature’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism shared his extreme outrage regarding the continued prevalence of these acts of hate targeting the state’s Jewish community and especially for Jewish residents across the commonwealth today’s report does not come as a complete shock,” he said in a statement I introduced the legislation that would later go on to create the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism because of the alarming issues that we are seeing here in Massachusetts and that we must address.” “It is just truly so sickening to me that Massachusetts continues to be one of the five states that collectively make up more than 50% of antisemitic acts of hate in our entire nation the work ahead of us is clear; Massachusetts must do better to root out hate Across the Anti-Defamation League’s New England region (which includes Massachusetts there were 638 antisemitic incidents of assault The number of incidents in New England has increased each of the last five years and is up 485% since 2020 the league counted 9,354 antisemitic incidents — the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking antisemitic incidents 46 years ago a 344% increase over the last five years and a 893% increase over the last 10 years “The persistent increase in antisemitic incidents over the past five years is a stark reminder that antisemitism continues to impact our communities,” said Samantha Joseph Anti-Defamation League New England’s regional director “Particularly concerning is the continued proliferation of extremist incidents and the rise of attacks against Orthodox Jews The alarming manifestations of antisemitism in 2024 instill fear and are reminders that much work remains to be done.” Of the 438 antisemitic incidents reported in Massachusetts last year the league said 275 or 63% of them were related to Israel or Zionism “a trend that reflects the impact of geopolitics on domestic antisemitism.” There were also 132 instances of verbal or written harassment and threats 37 appearances of antisemitic white supremacist propaganda 87 times in which a swastika was discovered A total of 108 Massachusetts cities and towns saw at least one antisemitic incident last year but the audit identified the state’s “primary hotspots” as Boston (96 incidents) Last year saw the number of antisemitic incidents on college and university campuses climb more steeply than in any other location and Massachusetts had the third-most campus incidents of any state with 107 Examples cited in the league’s audit included the discovery on the Smith College campus in Northampton of an Israeli flag with a swastika spray-painted to replace the Star of David and an incident at Berklee College of Music in Boston in which a student told a Jewish classmate that “Jews belong in the oven” and that he “cannot stop following Israel’s war against Palestinian children.” “College campuses have become an epicenter of American antisemitism as the sites of close to a fifth of all 2024 incidents Antisemitic incidents on college campuses reached their highest point for the year in the spring of 2024 which coincided with activity related to the anti-Israel encampment movement on dozens of campuses nationwide Incidents at or near encampments often contained antisemitic messages and participants recited antisemitic slogans,” the Anti-Defamation League said The organization said its audit methodology “is careful to not conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism” and does not count as antisemitic incidents any “legitimate political protest support for Palestinian rights or expressions of opposition to Israeli policies.” The Anti-Defamation League said its approach to Israel-related expressions “comports with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.” As part of a national wave of protests and subsequent student arrests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war a number of encampments cropped up last year on campuses around Massachusetts Northeastern University and Emerson College Chicago and Los Angeles — and the “responses to incidents of antisemitism at schools and on college campuses in their cities over the last two years.” The DOJ said in March that the task force “was aware of allegations that the schools in their respective cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from unlawful discrimination in potential violation of federal law.” A city spokesperson said in March that Boston “has one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in America .. and we stand firmly against antisemitism.” In April, the task force announced it would halt $2.2 billion in multi-year grants headed to Harvard The task force called the harassment of Jewish students “intolerable” and declared “It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.” Simon Cataldo have been leading the state’s new Commission on Combating Antisemitism which they have said aims to stamp out Massachusetts’ recent “ignominious reputation as a hub of antisemitic activity.” Velis shared that the commission will continue to hold hearings throughout the state as it works to meet its Nov which will include recommendations on how the state can better support Jewish residents and work to reduce the number of antisemitic incidents Jackie Matellian and Asa Rosario at Last Ditch in Greenfield The stage area at Last Ditch in Greenfield where the venue intends to host karaoke Sage Territo and Asa Rosario at Last Ditch in Greenfield A sign behind the bar at Last Ditch states the venue’s mission to serve “Dykes and their friends.” STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ Asa Rosario and Jackie Matellian at Last Ditch Western Massachusetts has a new lesbian bar and performance venue Last Ditch opened in the basement of 10 Fiske Ave. in Greenfield (the former 10 Forward space) on Thursday night, with a mission to serve “Dykes, Transexuals, Gender Freaks, Workers, and their friends,” according to their Instagram The ownership team, Asa Rosario, Jackie Matellian, and Sage Territo, are not only co-owners; they’re also housemates. Last year, they learned that Northampton’s former queer bar and performance venue, The Majestic Saloon, was going to close and they originally debated purchasing it to keep it open for the community and reopening that seemed even more appealing — they knew the space because they’d patronized it themselves and a larger space would mean more room for performances and community events “There’s something unique and cool about Greenfield,” Territo said “It fell into place because we were dreaming of the idea of opening a venue and how we could make it a fun place and supportive of the arts and we just got lucky that a really great opportunity arose.” since only Rosario had experience running a business and other small-scale agricultural ventures ‘Somebody has to do it,’ and we didn’t know of anybody else who was going to save one of the two places,” Matellian said we’re seeing more and more lesbian bars pop up again as people are realizing that connecting to larger community is really important and we knew that there were people in this area who were really craving that sort of space,” Rosario said The Pioneer Valley has been home to a number of queer bars and spaces in its history Census said Hampshire County had more same-sex female couple households than any other county in America And a 1992 National Enquirer story called Northampton “Lesbianville However, as the number of lesbian bars has declined nationwide from an estimated 200 to 34 the number of dedicated lesbian bars in the Valley has likewise followed suit The team at Last Ditch purchased the bar from a friend of a friend thanks to a loan from the Franklin County Community Development Corporation Their original plan was to open on New Year’s Eve last year but bureaucratic issues got in the way while they were in the process of transferring the previous owners’ liquor license they’re open and ready to bring the community together Their first event was an abridged drag adaptation of “Wicked”; upcoming events include a punk show and two other drag shows As one might expect for a queer bar in western Massachusetts the venue has a quirky hodgepodge of decor: atop a chessboard floor are plastic chairs from a church; a collection of mismatched chairs and tables sits behind them by the cozy lounge Near a window is what they call “ATM Girl,” a fake ATM purportedly made for a local TV show and decorated in pink and with fake eyelashes “That’s how we furnish our house,” Territo added Inside the bathroom near the stage is a collage of historical lesbian photos and media: “Lesbians Unite!” “Out Of Your Closet And Into The Streets!” “Gay Liberation Now!” build community!” Other than that: consent is mandatory; non-lesbians are welcome as long as they’re respectful; forms of discrimination like racism and transmisogyny are not allowed; no one will be turned away for lack of funds; and no one under the allowed age of an event will be admitted Another key rule: masks are required for everyone the venue supplies multiple types of masks at each entrance Between the bar and the elevator is what the team calls their “free store,” a space where guests can take free clothing they’re open in the afternoons to let community groups gather and Tuesday nights are designated as “Quiet Nites” on their weekly schedule with softer music and lighting for community members who want to gather without the typical high-energy atmosphere of a club regardless of access to funds,” Territo said “and it’s because we want to care for people as they have cared for us.” fun community space name itself Last Ditch It’s actually somewhat indirectly related to the bar’s lesbian identity While Territo and Rosario were on a trip to New York City they listened to a podcast about the history and significance of lesbian bars Territo was also reading the book “Stone Butch Blues” and was “thinking about the differentiation between a gay nightlife space and a queer space that has political intention and more of an interest in building community and creating a comfortable supportive space than making money or just getting people to buy a lot of drinks.” The team had floated the idea of using the name of a lesbian bar that no longer existed but older lesbians who had known those spaces firsthand pushed back on those ideas Choosing a name that worked became a last-minute decision – a “last-ditch effort,” Matellian said they had parameters: they wanted a name that was two words and felt “dive-y.” Bonus points if it was also a pun – and the word “ditch” is a synonym of the literal meaning of the word “dyke.” With that we all feel really excited to open our doors and have been really grateful to the positive response that we’ve gotten from the community at large,” Rosario added “[We] really cherish the opportunity to try and be leaders in this space and in this community and really just want to do everyone proud.” Last Ditch is open Tuesday to Thursday from 4 p.m to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m Carolyn Brown can be reached at cbrown@gazettenet.com GREENFIELD - Sherry E. (Freeman) Barton, age 77, of Greenfield, Indiana, passed away Monday, April 28, 2025 at Hancock Regional Hospital. She was born in New Castle, Indiana on May 4, 1947 to Laudis L. Jr. and Marcella Mae (Miller) Freeman.... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Sherry Barton created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories LEVERETT — Accepting a gift of an actively managed 146.3-acre woodlot and recommending resurfacing and possibly paving the length of Dudleyville Road are among the actions to be decided by residents at Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting including a $7.99 million operating budget for fiscal year 2026 with Leverett remaining unique in Massachusetts in having candidates both nominated and then elected from the floor of Town Meeting over this year’s $7.53 million operating budget More than half of this increase is attributable to the $230,356 in the assessment for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Schools The Selectboard voted 2-1 to endorse this assessment the mostly forested site at 353 North Leverett Road is near the Shutesbury town line Its acquisition has been recommended by the Town Forest Exploratory Committee and would necessitate the creation of a Town Forest Committee which would report annually in writing to the Selectboard as well as the hiring of a forester to work with the town For the 1.4-mile section of Dudleyville Road Tighe & Bond consultants performed an evaluation finding that “the gravel portion of the roadway requires extensive maintenance to remain serviceable and often becomes impassible after large rain events or during the spring thaw.” The warrant article would set the stage for an extensive rehabilitation and allow opportunities “to resurface the length of Dudleyville Road with pavement in any form.” Aside from the regional schools assessment the other large increase in the budget is the $124,388 increase going up from $3.04 million to $3.16 million The town budget otherwise has minimal increases mostly related to 3% cost-of-living increases There is also $6,229 added to the Council on Aging salaries so a community and events coordinator position can be created related to a contract with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for these duties Among cost savings is removing $8,730 by reducing a Highway Department part-time laborer position to 12 weeks Voters will be presented with two proposed transfers from the stabilization account: $250,000 to complete sprinkler system repairs inside Leverett Elementary School and $75,000 to buy and equip a new police cruiser There are also a series of free cash articles There are three significant draws from the Community Preservation Act account being proposed with the largest being $374,529 for construction of a multi-use accessible pocket park at the Leverett Library Another $265,000 would be used to restore and improve the discontinued town-owned section of Rattlesnake Gutter Road $176,000 would go toward the $4.11 million renovation of the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School track interior field and surrounding athletic fields that begins in late June Other CPA spending includes $24,500 that would go to the town’s Historical Commission to map the archaeological remains of Graves Ironworks which is located on town conservation land downstream from the historic Slarrow Mill in North Leverett; and $8,000 to restore the 1848 cabinet containing the town’s set of weights and measures so it can be placed on public view a recent candidates forum gave residents the opportunity to make campaign pitches before the Selectboard The only incumbents who spoke were Selectboard member Patricia Duffy and Finance Committee Chair Phil Carter who said they would like to continue their service The only newcomer at the forum was Tim Shores an elected Planning Board member who is running for School Committee Shores said he would be interested in serving as the town’s representative to the Amherst Regional School Committee and to put all ideas on the table for addressing the ongoing funding challenges To view the full 37-article warrant, visit leverett.ma.us/n/13198/May-3-2025-Annual-Town-Meeting-Warrant Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com I do believe emperor Donald Trump failed to factor in a couple of significant dynamics into his delusion of having sizeable industry return to the good ‘ole U.S Heavy manufacturing in our technical world incorporates industrial robots to do jobs that a great deal of humans once performed unions will most likely be a component in the workplace Solid reasoning for manufacturing leaving the U.S is politics and the interference of union activity Toyota and Honda may be preparing to shut down assembly lines in the southeastern quadrant of our country for reasons that are the current economic plan for the incumbent administration is slapping itself in the kisser Not surprising considering the ignorance of economic strategy necessary to maintain the well-being of a country that should be leading the world in trade Make your way around the mountain to celebrate Mountain Mike's Pizza's arrival in Greenfield on Wednesday The first 100 guests will receive a free mini pizza Raffles will also be held for a chance to win free pizza for a year Mountain Mike's Pizza opened at 7828 W. Layton Ave. in Greenfield on Feb. 26, according to a news release. To honor its first Wisconsin location Mountain Mike's is celebrating with the community on April 30 Twenty-five percent of the event's proceeds will go to the Greenfield High School Athletic Department In 2024, the popular pizza chain announced it was making its debut in the Midwest with three Mountain Mike's locations planned for the Green Bay area and three others in the Milwaukee area Mountain Mike's Pizza is known for its variety of signature handmade pizzas made with 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese as well as entertainment options such as a kids arcade big-screen televisions and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet For more information about the Mountain Mike's Greenfield location, visit the company's website or call the store at 414-775-9500 In the three months since President Trump took office we have seen an unprecedented upheaval of the norms and principles that are foundational to who we are as a nation and a people Of the myriad devastating impacts resulting from the chaotic behavior of the current Administration dismantle and defund the institutions of America’s international leadership and engagement is most strikingly at odds with America’s fundamental values and what it has long stood for — a reliable partner and a beacon to those seeking a better life followed by 25 years working for USAID and the Department of State and most recently leading non-governmental organizations I can personally attest to the vital role and long-term value of our international engagement to the United States Far from promoting any “radical ideological agendas,” the dedicated civil and foreign service officers nonprofit organizations and volunteers are working to promote the interests and values of the U.S. and support equitable and sustainable development for the global common good The United States has long been an international leader in many spheres including technical innovation international conflict resolution and peace efforts leadership in rallying NATO and other like-minded countries to support Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression or guiding the Paris Climate Accord to a successful end in 2015 are only a few examples of the importance of American leadership the prescient and enormously successful Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the end of World War II is another historic example of leadership — and emblematic of what truly makes America great The strategic relationships and trust built up through the many dimensions of “soft power” over decades have strengthened national security and prosperity The Fulbright Scholarship program which supports educational exchange between the U.S and other countries is one effective example of the how the United States has long attracted the best and brightest to our universities contributing hugely to America’s preeminence in so many areas today Of the many notable individuals who were Fulbright scholars in the U.S 42 alumni are serving or have served as head of state and 64 Fulbright alumni have won the Nobel Prize are living in terror of being deported or having their visas revoked People of all political stripes agree on the need to improve government efficiency and effectiveness which has been actively pursued by past administrations the reckless approach of taking a sledgehammer to the entire federal government and key institutions aggressively threatening close allies and adversaries alike is leading us in exactly the wrong direction Not only is it wreaking havoc and chaos across agencies and services within the U.S. Pew and others indicate most Americans do not support these policies by wide margins there have been many missteps and mistakes in U.S such as the disastrous wars in Vietnam and Iraq America has largely played a positive and important role Americans should rightly be proud of the having long been the global leader in providing critical humanitarian assistance to people in need USAID reached over 16 million citizens with emergency food and shelter resources to raise three times as much from other donors Our foreign assistance budget has always been a tiny fraction – less than 1% - of the federal budget outsize impact and benefit to the U.S.: combating Ebola to prevent its spread to the U.S, strengthening countries health systems to prevent future pandemics spiraling out of control promoting anti-corruption in countries to allow U.S supporting sustainable economic livelihoods to prevent migrant flows and alternatives to drug production prevention always proves cheaper and more effective than responding to crises after they erupted The recent rash of actions to sharply diminish our international engagement and assistance are enormous strategic blunders with far reaching consequences The dismantling of USAID — which has enjoyed tremendous bipartisan support in the six decades since it was created by President John F Kennedy — has cut off life-saving programs and left thousands vulnerable to disease and famine and the recent “reorganization” of the State Department (including notably eliminating the Bureau for Democracy Human Rights and Labor) will all leave the U.S and more vulnerable to a wide range of threats severely undermining our global leadership and national security China is happily stepping into the void we leave behind in response to the current upheaval and turmoil here former friends and allies increasingly view America as a rogue skillful diplomacy and generous foreign assistance have built relationships and trust over many decades that are now being recklessly squandered and the integrated global economic system have made it clear we are interconnected and cannot wall ourselves off from the rest of the world The scope of current challenges — a looming recession among others — makes it all the more important to stand strong in our core values and commitment to America’s continued international engagement and leadership working cooperatively with international partners is not optional Polly Byers recently stepped down as executive director of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, a 30-year international peacebuilding organization based in Greenfield The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew will participate in World Labyrinth Day for the 17th consecutive year welcoming the public to the labyrinth on its side lawn as a moving meditation for world peace on Saturday The labyrinth at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew in Greenfield GREENFIELD — The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew will participate in World Labyrinth Day for the 17th consecutive year welcoming the public to the labyrinth on its side lawn as a moving meditation for world peace on Saturday The Community Labyrinth Coalition invites everyone to 8 Church St. to “Walk as One at 1:00,” when thousands of people around the world will walk labyrinths at 1 p.m in their respective time zones in a symbolic demonstration of unity and peace “I’m interested in it as a tool for prayer or meditation because … you have to slow down and you get to the center of it and one of the ways that I use it is reflecting on my life as a whole,” said Community Labyrinth Coalition member Becca King Non-maze labyrinth paths are found throughout the world, with the oldest dating back thousands of years. Nearly 6,650 labyrinths are listed on labyrinthlocator.org and an estimated 15,000 people from 100 countries participate in World Labyrinth Day Community Labyrinth Coalition member Laura Schlaikjer said her mother got the idea to create the labyrinth at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew She said her mother also has one at her house “There’s a distinct difference between a maze and a labyrinth,” she explained “In a labyrinth there’s one way in; the same way out.” Schlaikjer noted the coalition is made up of mostly older people and she is trying to recruit younger people to keep the tradition going King said labyrinths consist of turns and surprises “But different people use it different ways,” she said “I tend to be a Speedy Gonzales-type person More information about World Labyrinth Day can found at worldlabyrinthday.org. For more about the Community Labyrinth Coalition, visit saintsjamesandandrew.org/labyrinth Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120 Photographer Thad Lee to record farm through the seasons – A grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area will fund a photo documentary project on Greenfield Farm the future home of Mississippi's first writer's residency Greenfield Farm was once home to Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Faulkner's mules, chickens and other farm animals. The land – just 15 miles northeast of Oxford – was acquired by the University of Mississippi and will soon become an inspiration to a new generation of authors Daffodils grow in the ruins of Greenfield Farm The flowers are evidence that there was once an abundant life on the dilapidated property which the university plans to renovate into a writers' retreat Before renovation begins, however, the university's Mississippi Lab wants to document the farm as it is "We've been working on developing the residency at Greenfield Farm for several years now," said Mary Wise Conaway "The land has such strong ties to Faulkner's legacy and to the university and this is an opportunity to document the farm as it is right now before we break ground and before all those plans for the residency are put into motion." The Mississippi Lab has partnered with Thad Lee, a documentarian and photographer, to chronicle the natural beauty of the timeworn property through a grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Lee has been photographing the seasons at Greenfield Farm said he's excited to be able to preserve some of the original structures flora and mystique of the property through his work "You get out here and realize how far away you are from the rhythms of town and Greenfield Farm is going to be able to share that with writers They will be able to explore this place and discover what made it so special to Faulkner." Lee's experience with documenting landscapes made him the perfect person to join the Mississippi Lab on the project we'll be developing a digital repository of his work to share with the public," she said "That's going to be available on the Mississippi Lab website and through eGrove Daffodils are already growing wild near one of the buildings rusted farm equipment is growing over with weeds and myriad pieces of the past lie left behind This is a project that is going to cover the farm in this incredible transitional state from it being a place that hasn't been tended in years that has been partially reclaimed by the woods but there are also structures that were there that belonged to Faulkner I want to capture the marriage between the wilderness and the ruins." a UM graduate who paints and teaches in Water Valley paints one of the remaining structures at Greenfield Farm a tract near Oxford that was once William Faulkner’s mule farm A new project funded by the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area will document the seasons on the farm Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services 662-915-7211 Copyright © 2025 The University of Mississippi. All Rights Reserved The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to end its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has town officials in Whately and Colrain going back to the drawing board to figure out how to fund hazard mitigation work in their communities Both Colrain’s plans to apply for roughly $30,000 to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan as well as Whately’s existing application for $63,750 in BRIC funding to pay for flooding mitigation on Christian Lane and then a week or two before we were supposed to take the next step we got a notice that the BRIC funding had been taken back,” Colrain Town Administrator Diana Parsons said “We need to probably circle up with our emergency management director and see if there’s other funding available.” announced that it was ending the BRIC program which provided grants for municipalities to plan long-term hazard mitigation projects FEMA attributed the cuts — which totaled $882 million nationally — to choices made by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 according to FEMA’s website.) It also stated that allocated funds will be “immediately returned” either to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S “The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters,” FEMA wrote we are committed to ensuring that Americans in crisis can get the help and resources they need.” Of the $882 million in disaster prevention aid that was eliminated nationwide Massachusetts saw roughly $90 million in cuts spanning 18 communities as well as a Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will see a nearly $2.85 million cut and DCR will face nearly $12.48 million in cuts to projects that include the Tenean Beach and Conley Street Resilient Waterfront Project in Boston she will pursue possible funding alternatives from the state She noted that having an up-to-date Hazard Mitigation Plan is one of FEMA’s requirements for disaster relief eligibility Colrain’s existing Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA in 2020 and it expires in November 2025 “The town might just have to try to work on updating it ourselves because I don’t know how it’s going to work with FEMA anymore,” Parsons said “Who knows what changes we’re going to see on the federal level?” the town applied for flooding mitigation funding on behalf of Christian Lane resident Jeff Kocot — who testified to the Selectboard in 2023 that stormwater frequently floods his yard Former Whately Town Administrator Brian Domina previously said the clay pipes on the northern side of Christian Lane have been infiltrated by tree roots “It’s unfortunate that that funding has been lost,” Whately’s current town administrator “It was going to be used to investigate stormwater issues in one particular neighborhood.” Kane added that the town will likely be responsible for the process of mitigating the Christian Lane flooding issues — a task that he expects will be costly AZ — A child is hurt after a house caught fire in Mesa Saturday morning Mesa fire officials say they were called to the home near Greenfield and Brown roads for a reported fire The fire was quickly upgraded to a first alarm after firefighters arrived Fire officials say a child was taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation They add that two dogs were also rescued from the home I welcome ministers participating in this important meeting today And I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing I won’t mince words: The situation in the Middle East requires an urgent diplomatic solution we have seen devastating – devastating civilian suffering in Israel and Gaza And we have seen upheaval and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies the United States has exercised leadership and resolve in pursuing clear objectives: End the war in Gaza – end the war in Gaza by securing the release of hostages who did not start and cannot end this conflict Avoid a broader regional war while forcefully countering Iran’s terrorist proxies and destabilizing activities unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security And press for the full – full implementation of the Council’s resolutions These remain the United States’ objectives Secretary Blinken has stated it is time to end the war And he is committed to do everything possible to achieve that Israel accomplished the goal it set out for itself: Dismantling Hamas’ military organization and eliminating Hamas’ leadership responsible for October 7 and that Hamas does not to return to power Hamas has refused to engage on any of the numerous proposals put forward in the past eight weeks Qatar has expressed its frustration at Hamas’ unwillingness to engage seriously Israel must also urgently take additional steps to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza The United States has been specific about what exactly Israel must do to improve the situation for Palestinian civilians We are closely tracking Israel’s actions in this regard and engaging with its leaders every single day And there has been some progress: Israel is currently working to implement 12 of the 15 steps we have outlined we need to see all steps fully implemented and sustained And we need to see concrete improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground That includes Israel allowing commercial trucks to move into Gaza alongside humanitarian assistance We also need Israel to address persistent lawlessness so that the hundreds of trucks of aid arriving at crossing points into Gaza can reach people in need we need real and extended pauses in fighting and combat in large areas of Gaza – again so as to enable assistance to reach people in desperate need this conflict was stoked and exploited by Iran which provided support to regional proxies and partners and directly put millions of innocent Israelis The United States has responded forcefully deploying its military assets on two occasions when Iran launched unprecedented ballistic missile attacks on Israel And as President Biden has made clear: We will continue to stand alongside Israel and all of our regional partners in defending against Iran’s destabilizing regional actions we recognize with Nasrallah and other Iranian-backed proxies eliminated a diplomatic resolution is needed to end the fighting in Lebanon and return Israeli and Lebanese citizens safely to their homes Israeli officials last week underscored their openness to a diplomatic resolution that would do just that We all know that this requires Hizballah to withdraw from an area between the Blue Line and the Litani River as well as the full deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces throughout the south Hizballah has threatened the security of Israel Hizballah built up its forces in plain sight and in disregard of Resolutions 1559 and 1701 Rather than call for unconditional ceasefires that Iran and its proxies have no intention of honoring members of this Council should speak with one voice in support of diplomatic efforts to achieve a durable end to the fighting we expect all parties to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises and take steps to ensure UNIFIL’s ability to operate freely and in accordance with its mandate the United States is steadfast in its commitment to Israel’s security support for the safety of the Israeli people and its right to exist as an independent state are unshakable military support alone will not solve Israel’s security challenges and protect its people Nor will proposals to annex the West Bank or construct Israeli settlements in Gaza – which would sow the seeds of further instability and create new obstacles to full integration of Israel into the region This cannot be a time to waver on our commitment to a two-state solution Palestinian dignity and self-determination and Israel’s security needs are mutually reenforcing To help Lebanon exercise effective control over its territory And to strengthen regional and international resolve to deny Iran and its enablers the ability to dictate the course of events in the Middle East this region can begin to heal and rebuild a better future: One without Iran or its proxies One in which Israelis and Palestinians are afforded equal measures of peace and security One in which the limitless pain we are seeing today gives way to the limitless understanding I believe – and I know – is possible By | 18 November, 2024 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience South Deerfield’s Keith Burch tees off on the 13th hole at the 2025 U.S Open Local Qualifier at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston on Thursday South Deerfield’s Keith Burch chips onto the 13th green at the 2025 U.S Open Local Qualifier at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston on Thursday Ieuan Jones of Wales watches his second shot on the 13th hole at the 2025 U.S Open Local Qualifier at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston on Thursday Northampton’s Aaron Van Epps putts on the 11th hole at the 2025 U.S Northampton’s Aaron Van Epps tees off on the 11th hole at the 2025 U.S BERNARDSTON — Golfers from all over flocked to Crumpin-Fox Club on Thursday for the 2025 U.S hoping to get one step closer to achieving their dreams of competing in the 2025 U.S Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania The top four finishers at each local qualifier — taking place at 110 different courses across the country from April 16 through May 19 — advance to the Final Qualifying Round which begins on May 19 and runs until June 2 at at 13 different locations The fifth and sixth place finishers at each local qualifier advance to the Final Qualifying Round as alternates Wales’ Ieuan Jones was the first-place finisher after shooting a 3-under 69 on the day Jones was proud of the performance especially having been under the weather this week “I haven’t touched a club in three days to be honest because I’ve been sick I got in a really good rhythm today and hit a lot of good shots I just happened to make a few putts which is great.”  How does someone from Wales end up playing in a qualifier in Western Mass. Jones — who went to high school in Michigan — attends Harvard and plays on the Crimson golf team With Bernardston being one of the closest qualifiers he made the trip out and played Crump for the first time he said he had to figure it out as he went “I go to Harvard so it’s a two hour drive from campus to here,” Jones said You’re driving through nothing and a golf course just pops up It looked like there could be some hidden creeks in different spots so I just tried to play it to places I could see.”  Jones came into the tournament having placed second at the Ivy League Championship this past weekend and stayed hot on Thursday shooting just one bogey on both the front and back nine while adding birdies on 6 He said he’ll be looking to keep the momentum going in the Final Qualifying Round Kentucky’s Robbie Keyes and Weston’s Cooper Griffin finished in a tie for second after both carded 1-under scores of 71 Keyes had good luck playing on Western Mass Amateur Championship at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield a few years ago With his sister working at Williams College he decided to come back out and compete at Crump on Thursday and it was once again a successful trip it’s always better when you actually qualify It proves to people you can actually do it.”  who was 1-over after nine following a pair of bogeys He scored birdies on 10 and 13 but bogeys on 12 and 14 kept him 1-over before a strong finish that saw him birdie 17 and 18 brought him to 1-under “It was pretty up and down but overall very well,” Keyes said While many were playing Crumpin-Fox for the first time Griffin had experience on the course having played it during a Mass He said he enjoyed the experience and looked forward to coming back to play again though bogeys on 6 and 9 put him at 1-under going into the back nine He fell back to even after a bogey on 15 but birdied 17 to seal his spot in the next round Griffin has made it past the local qualifier in the past and is hoping to make it one step further this year Three years ago I made it past the local qualifiers in Foxborough I’m used to it now but it’s still a nervous feeling.”  Maine’s Shawn Warren both closed out their round even par leading to a playoff to determine which would advance to the final qualifying round Jones took the playoff to punch the final spot while Warren and Bedford New Hampshire’s Patrick Gocklin (1-over) will move on as alternates There were several locals who competed on Thursday Northampton’s Aaron Van Epps carded an 8-over 80 South Deerfield’s Keith Burch shot a 9-over 81 Conway’s Gunnar Moore carded a 10-over 82 while Greenfield’s Will Conant came in with a 19-over 91 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Kari Louise Greenfield peacefully died on April 13 2025 from complications due to a stroke-associated pneumonia at the age 77 in Fort Worth As a youth she would have graduated from North Las Vegas High School she tried out for a show called "Rocket to Fame" and was selected to go on TV When her dad found out he quickly moved them back to Salt Lake City where she then graduated from Skyline High in the Salt Lake City Utah temple for time and all eternity Her nurturing spirit extended far beyond her own children as she dedicated many years of her life to providing daycare in her home and touched the lives of countless children and families many of whom continued to carry her influence well into adulthood Kari had a gift of making every child feel deeply loved learning and the joyful chaos of little ones.  Her resilience and faith was a great example to all who knew her as she battled with the loss of her first baby And all of this living with muscular dystrophy She will be remembered for her kind heart and selfless service she offered without ever needing to raise her voice Her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped And always ready to play one last hand of rumi She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints She faithfully served in many callings including Primary President and one great grandson:Eddelhide (died at infancy) Breanne) and Jedediah Greenfield and Kallie (Elle Utah where a viewing will be held from 9:45 a.m Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors