Planning Board begins review of plans for big-box store on French King Highway

GREENFIELD - The town's Planning Board will begin its review tonight of a Connecticut developer's plans to build a 135,000-square-foot discount department store.

The board will hold a public hearing at 7 in the Greenfield Middle School auditorium.

Food Bank, communities set Hunger Action Month

HATFIELD - Western Massachusetts cities and towns are joining The Food Bank in a national month of activism and observance.

According The Food Bank, one in eight residents of western Massachusetts face hunger every day, many of them children.

Older teens grapple with employment issues at youth conference

GREENFIELD - "I'm 17, and I have to pay the bills," said Leslie Estevez, of Northampton.

"But that's just our situation," she said, explaining her job status as she shrugged her shoulders.

Greenfield hosts virtual school information sessions today

GREENFIELD - There are two information sessions today for people who want to learn more about the virtual school that Greenfield will be opening in next month.

Greenfield residents speak out against WMECO rate hike

GREENFIELD - "These are serious times," said Cynthia Dodge.

The Greenfield resident spoke from her wheelchair on the floor of the Sloan Theater at Greenfield Community College Thursday night to voice her opposition to a rate increase proposed by the Western Massachusetts Electric Co.

Greenfield will be first in state to open virtual school

GREENFIELD - It's official: Greenfield will be the first community in the state to offer a virtual school, opening its online classes in cyberspace this fall.

Greenfield candidate challenges state over biomass plant

GREENFIELD -- The state may have erred in not providing for Greenfield's proposed wood-burning generating plant to be subject to enhanced public participation efforts as part of an 8-year-old state Environmental Justice Policy, according to a state representative candidate.