Bernardston News

Now in its 60th year, the Four Leaf Clover Restaurant in Bernardston has its roots in the region's past.

In a time when many farmers are struggling just to remain afloat, a Westport dairy farm is making yet another move to ensure its future in bucolic South Westport.

When life hands you lemons, make lemon squares, Paul Abbey might have advised his culinary arts students at Franklin County Technical School, where he taught for 30 years.

The bad news: state budget cuts were drastic, and the state is likely to be $5 billion in the red before the fiscal year begins next week.

The sixth annual Community Sacred Gathering as part of the Relay for Life, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, and will take place in the Survivors' Tent from 7 to 8 p.m. today.

This is the time of the year when I hear about special awards. DR. SALLY LIVINGSTON of Concord, daughter of Stella Skrzypek and the late Joseph Skrzypek of Turners Falls, has been inducted into the Twenty-First Century Women Business Leaders Hall of Fame at Baypath College in Springfield.

Gov. Deval Patrick has awarded four grants to help farmers across Massachusetts maintain energy-efficient buildings and build systems that generate energy from manure and organic waste.

A museum that celebrates the industrial history of Franklin County from the 17th century on will have its grand opening in its new location Sunday, with displays of materials from factories that were part of the winning of the West and the winning of two wars.

By DAVID A. VALLETTE dvallette@repub.com NORTHFIELD - Academically on top of her graduating class of 65 students, the valedictorian at Pioneer Valley Regional School said that the size of her class, or lack of it, really matters.

Ever wanted to play a beautiful, haughty princess on film? How about a lovely, but depressed queen of the butterflies? A robot? An independent filmmaker who is making a low-budget children's movie called ''Skyboys'' in Leyden and Bernardston over the next few months has put out a casting call for all 13 characters for a fanciful space adventure ...

Independent filmmaker and Leyden resident Angus Reid has begun work on a children's movie, to be called 'Skyboys,' in a hayloft Two weeks ago, Reid, 31, who grew up in Leyden, began building a canary-yellow, over-a-dozen-foot high rocket ship from food-shipping barrels and plastic wallboard.

By ANGELA CARBONE acarbone@repub.com WEST SPRINGFIELD: The City Council on Monday is scheduled to discuss and vote on the fiscal 2010 operating budget at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Office Building, City Council Chambers.

The Pioneer Valley Regional School District has a budget for next year, which is the same as this year's but one that school officials predict will result in staff cuts.

Greenfield business owners are banding together to bring Fair Trade Products, and hopefully more business to the area.

Enjoy this all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring blueberry and regular pancakes with sausage and real Maple syrup.

When Kimberly Deane, 19, of Bernardston took her first ride on a horse at age 2½, I'm sure there was no thought that 17 years later she would win a prestigious national award ... of course, with a horse.

The town Finance Committee has determined that there will likely be a shortfall in funding for the schools of around $30,000 and the possible need for an override at the April 29 town meeting.

Does it get any better than this? The trout trucks are rolling, the turkeys gobbling, the forsythias and magnolias blossoming.

Many Franklin County residents have been receiving cell phone text messages that are part of an ongoing con game.

Marjorie M. Truesdell Grant of Homestead Hall, former resident of Bernardston and Holden, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in the Rose Monahan Hospice Home.