Richie Davis
DailyHampGazette
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Past articles by Richie:
The American chestnut: Cultivating a comeback
While he was a college student in Worcester, Brian Clark of Ashfield remembers when he read for the first time about the American chestnut, once known as “America’s most iconic tree,” which by then had become decimated by blight — from Mississippi to... → Read More
Classrooms: Book explains methods of North Star School
Kenneth Danford has been challenging the common wisdom that adolescents need to stay in school for their own well-being for nearly 25 years.In his new book, “Learning is Natural; School is Optional,” he explains in black and white why he established... → Read More
An industry forged: ‘Tapping into History’ exhibit highlights museum’s seasonal opening
For want of a screw, an entire industry was forged.Nearly 150 years later, a museum exhibit opening today looks at the tap and die industry that transformed Greenfield from a sleepy town to a name known ‘round the world.The Historical Society of... → Read More
Hands Across the Hills story spreads far and wide
LEVERETT – After a year of drawing attention solely from the local news media, this town’s Hands Across the Hills effort and its organizer, Paula Green, are in the spotlight nationally and internationally as an effort to help bridge the political... → Read More
Blais’ first bill calls for creation of Office of Rural Policy
As her first piece of filed legislation, newly installed state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, called for creation of a state Office of Rural Policy, “to enhance the economic vitality of rural communities and to advance the health and well-being of... → Read More
Four Franklin County food producers capture national awards
San Francisco may be the showcase for the Good Food Awards, a collection of national awards given each year to food and drink makers who create tasty, authentic and responsible products and, in doing so, better the nation’s food system.But that didn’t... → Read More
Greenfield’s beloved Textile Co. has colorful past
The tight warren of gray, green and brown houses between Greenfield’s Mill Street and the Green River gives way to kaleidoscopic colors when you enter the overwhelming 1840s home of The Textile Co.More familiar as “Eastern Textile Co.,” the former... → Read More
Time will tell if lack of snow affects sugaring
Except for this week’s scant snow showers, the lack of a white winter has, so far, left many around the region wondering whether to hold out hope for a sugaring season that will start just a matter of weeks from now.The last measurable snowfall in... → Read More
NRC raps maker of Vt. Yankee waste casks
VERNON, Vt. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has filed a complaint against the manufacturer of radioactive waste storage casks used at the closed Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.Holtec International adopted a new design for its steel and concrete... → Read More
Berkshire Gas agrees to half proposed rate hike
Berkshire Gas Company would have its proposed rate hike cut in more than half by a negotiated settlement with the state attorney general’s office. But while that could be great news for existing customers, a negotiated provision to improve the... → Read More
‘Agritourism’ bill could be last Kulik files before retirement in January
With about a month left in the legislative session — and until his retirement — Rep. Stephen Kulik hopes his proposal for a state study of how to beef up agricultural tourism will become a reality.The bill, which could be the last piece of legislation... → Read More
Szynal hired to lead Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
With its recently hired executive director about to join the state Legislature, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has named her successor – former legislative aide Diana Szynal of Hatfield. Szynal’s 16 years as district director for the late... → Read More
No end in sight for natural gas moratorium
Berkshire Gas Co.’s four-year-old moratorium on new hookups and expanded service in its eight-town Franklin Hampshire territory will continue indefinitely, the company says.Berkshire Gas, which began the moratorium in December 2014 in Greenfield,... → Read More
Lovvorn challenging incumbent in her first run for office
Although she’s never run for public office before, Republican Congressional candidate Tracy Lovvorn points back to an experience she had about nine years ago challenging the system — and what followed — as planting the seed for her current run against... → Read More
McGovern keeping focus on jobs, social safety net
Congressman James McGovern, who faces his first re-election challenge in years, says if he wins a 12th term on Nov. 6 and Democrats regain control of Congress, he will likely be named to chair the powerful House Rules Committee, where he would go from... → Read More
Leverett group wins national peacebuilding award
LEVERETT — Hands Across the Hills, the grassroots project that aims to build bridges across a political and cultural divide that seems to be widening in this country, is being awarded a “U.S. Peacebuilding Award of Excellence” for its work between... → Read More
Matching retiring farmers with next the next generation
Sweetwater Farm in Petersham traces its roots back nearly 270 years to Sylvanus Howe, whose fields fed colonial soldiers in the Revolutionary War with wheat and beef.Karen Davis and her husband bought what had been the Coolidge dairy farm for 66... → Read More
HIP to shut off benefits before Thanksgiving
The state plans to temporarily shut off Healthy Incentives Program benefits just before Thanksgiving to extend funding for the wildly popular program that doubles benefits for food stamp recipients buying locally grown food.Without another helping of... → Read More
Anti-nuclear groups urge action against national waste dump
With closure and dismantling of the Yankee Atomic plant in Rowe and now Vermont Yankee and other New England nuclear sites pretty much a fait accompli, watchdog groups like Citizens Awareness Network are focused on the one tremendous remaining issue:... → Read More
Hinds mulls successes, challenges of 1st term
The first term of state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, who is also a first-time elected official, coincided with two momentous political events: the resignation of Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, who as the senior member of the western... → Read More