Greenfield Recorder 08/22/2015

Copyright © 2015 Greenfield Recorder 08/22/2015 September 1, 2015 3:30 pm (GMT +4:00) / Powered by TECNAVIA

Logan FranklinErving Elementary

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R 82/64SOME CLOUDS

Parade in peril?Lack of participation may bring end to Warwick Old Home Days procession.

LOCAL, PAGE C1

UncertaintyGreenfield dispatchers worried about having jobs next year.

LOCAL, PAGE C1

recorder.comTHE RECORDER

August 22, 2015

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Recorder/Diane Broncaccio Molly Gore of Monroe, working for Zoar Outdoor, paddle boards with a student on the Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington, Vt. Read more about it in our Life & Times section on Page D1.

Staying afloat

GREENFIELD — Franklin County’s Hepatitis C rate has risen dramatically in recent years, out-pacing the statewide increase. The viral liver infection increase rais-es questions about its connection to spreading heroin use, the long-term financial impact on state-support-ed health programs, and leads to discussion about needle exchange

programs for addicts.

H e p a t i t i s infection is spread pri-marily through sharing of nee-dles among drug users, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

By CHRIS CURTISRecorder Staff

Hepatitis C rate up sharply in countyRaises questions on costs to state health care programs, needle sharing for heroin addicts

AddictionSee our website for more stories.www.recorder.com/

addiction

Recorder/Tom Relihan Andrew Sutton of Greenfield sits in front of the entrance to DIAL/SELF’s Federal Street facility.

GREENFIELD — Two years ago, Andrew Sutton of Greenfield had found himself in a bit of a rut.

At home, his relationship with his mother had grown tense — especially when he became romantically involved with a woman of whom she did not approve — spurring him to try moving out on his own at 22.

That was easier said than done, how-ever, since living independently came with some added costs including rent.

Plus, he’d recently dropped out of his pro-gram at Greenfield Community College when he found that financial aid wasn’t picking up as much of the bill as he’d ini-tially thought, saddling him with a large debt that he had to begin repaying.

Compounding that, Sutton said he fell

sick during his first year on his own, which caused him to lose both of his jobs and to spend six months unemployed. That made it tough to find food and living arrangements, much less pay back debts.

Budget veto override means funding for homeless youthBy TOM RELIHANRecorder Staff

GREENFIELD — The owners of Kings Gym on Main Street in the heart of downtown Greenfield are hoping to move to the former J.H. Smith Co. property on Chapman Street by spring.

Husband and wife Sean and Robin King said they’ve been in negotia-tions for two buildings at 330 Chapman St., which are located behind Rice Oil Co.

Sean King said the move would allow the gym to almost double in size. It is currently 6,500 square feet on two floors — the gym currently uses the main and bottom floors in the building at 156 Main St.

The Kings said the gym would grow to 12,500 square feet on one floor, if they end up buying the new property.

“We’d have a lot more parking there,” said Sean King.

The couple said they would add more cardio equipment, an aerobics

room and saunas, and they would expand other areas.

Kings Gym outgrowing Main Street space

By ANITA FRITZRecorder Staff

Owners hope they can make deal for Chapman St. spot

■ Sean King said the move would allow the gym to almost double in size.

■ DIAL/SELF is a Greenfield-based nonprofit that provides social services, life skills education and housing to the area’s homeless youth to help them establish themselves for independent living.

See HEPATITIS Page A 8

See DIAL/SELF Page A 2

See GYM Page A 2

LEYDEN — You may see more spring in the step of Dancing Bear Farm’s Tom Ashley at the Bernardston Farmers Market now that two of his cherry tomato variet-

ies have won top spots in the state’s 31st annual tomato contest.

Ashley, who won both first and second place for his husk and sun-gold varieties in the cherry toma-to category, said he felt “ecstatic” after hearing the news. Designed to increase awareness of locally grown produce, this year’s contest drew 92 entries from 18 farms, according to a news release.

“My tomatoes are the best,” Ashley said. “That’s my goal. I strive

By AVIVA LUTTRELLRecorder Staff

Tomatoes worthy of a trophy (or 2)Leyden farmer takes top spots in statewide contest

See TOMATOES Page A 2

Enrollment Dayat GCC

AUGUST 22 www.gcc.mass.edu3337974